Russia Circulates New Syria Draft At UN

A tank burns, allegedly after being attacked by insurgents from the Free Syrian Army, in the city of Homs on January 12.

Russia has circulated a revised United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria -- but Western diplomats are quoted as saying the draft still appears to fall short of a strong condemnation of the Syrian regime's bloody crackdown on civilian protesters.

Reports say experts from the 15 Security Council member states are expected to meet later on January 17 to discuss the Russian text.

The Security Council has been divided for months on the Syrian conflict, with Western countries seeking a strong condemnation of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia, a traditional Syrian ally, has pushed for a resolution that would call on all sides to halt violence. Earlier on January 16, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the Security Council to finally handle the Syrian crisis in what he called a "coherent manner."

Syrian antiregime activists said at least 12 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed in violence on January 16 in Syria.

compiled from agency reports