Violence rages on across Syria as UN votes
Fighting has intensified in Damascus as the UN tries to persuade Russia and China to impose tougher sanctions on Syria.
Activists say shelling and tank fire continue to pound neighbourhoods in Damascus, days after rebels declared the final battle to take control of the capital.
Gunfire and plumes of smoke have reportedly been seen in the streets surrounding parliament.
Syria’s rebel army launched a full scale offensive to “liberate” the capital, dubbing the campaign Operation Damascus Volcano.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao ahead of a key vote by the UN Security Council on Syria. He urged the leader to back Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan and agree to tougher measures against the Assad regime.
China, one of five veto-wielding members of the Security Council, has twice joined with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main ally Russia in blocking resolutions critical of Damascus and has repeatedly warned against outside intervention in Syria.
Joint international envoy Kofi Annan has met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow in an effort to lobby for Russia’s support for a resolution that could potentially allow the use of military force.
But Moscow, a key ally of Syria, has accused the West of blackmail and says it will block the move at the UN. It will, however, agree to extending the UN’s mandate to remain in Syria, but not to any sanctions or intervention.
“We have taken into account concerns over the humanitarian situation, human rights and localized ceasefire. This idea has been discussed by Kofi Annan with the Syrian leadership in Damascus. It seems to be rather effective,” Alexander Pankin, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN said.
The current 90-day UN mission in Syria ends on Friday and if no resolution is passed by then, it would have to shut down this weekend.
Western nations are now calling for a new resolution backed by the threat of force.
About 16,000 people have died in Syria since the uprising began in March last year.