UN council issues tepid rebuke of Syria. Does it want to avoid another Libya?

[oberliner]

The United Nations’ top human-rights body on Friday split over how to respond to Syria’s state-ordered violence against civilians – even as Syrians defied the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and turned out in protests across the country.

The UN Human Rights Council approved a watered-down statement sponsored by the United States that condemns the military-on-civilian violence that has killed as many as 500 people, according to reports from Syrian rights organizations. The statement also calls on the UN’s top human-rights official to undertake an immediate investigation of the violence for violations of international law.

But the statement had to overcome a barrage of opposition from China, Russia, and some African countries that made it clear they were balking at following the same path the international community has taken against the regime of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya. The statement squeaked by with 26 votes in favor from the 47-member body.

Nine countries – including China and Russia – voted against the measure, while 11 either abstained or were not present.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0429/UN-council-issues-tepid-rebuke-of-Syria.-Does-it-want-to-avoid-another-Libya

[King_David]

1. What an absolute JOKE

They should just condemn Israel for the violence there,and get it over with !!

[shira]

2. A resolution blaming Israel for Syria's actions would probably pass in the UN. n/t

[King_David]

4. yep

'If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions.'
Abba Eban

[shira]

5. Notice that the usual suspects can never muster any energy to ever criticize the UN...

...for its illiberal, regressive and extremely harmful, dangerous, and irresponsible policy?

Ever wonder why?

:eyes:

[azurnoir]

3. The resolution passed 26-20 but the US/NATO's willingness to bomb

Muslim countries was probably a factor