The draft statement would not have been enforceable but it could have been a building block toward a later resolution, therefor, Russian representative in the Wednesday meeting vetoed the British-sponsored attempt.

A UN diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were private, said Russia introduced amendments that soften up the statement in a bid to avoid condemning  the Syrian government.

Britain wanted the UN Security Council to denounce the Syrian government's air strikes on militants in the city of Aleppo with Scud missiles and barrel bombs.

Damascus has repeatedly announced that Syria is trying to cleanse the war-torn country from the presence of terrorists and foreign-backed militants.

Security Council members were considering the press statement. Such a statement is not enforceable but expresses the Western side's sentiment.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. On December 9, Syria urged the United Nations to stop Saudi Arabia from "supporting al-Qaeda-linked militants" and fanning the flames of "terrorism" in the country.

NTJ/NJF