Wed May 21, 2014 09:27:05
Russia says it will veto a UN resolution to refer the Syrian conflict to the international criminal court (ICC) if it comes to a vote in the Security Council.
Moscow's position, announced on Tuesday by Gennady Gatilov, the deputy foreign minster, came after nearly 60 countries announced their support for the measure.
"The draft that has been submitted to the UN Security Council is unacceptable to us, and we will not support it," Gatilov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. "If it is put to a vote, we will veto it."
France first circulated the proposal last month after briefing the Security Council on alleged photographic evidence, provided by a defector, of "mass killings of detainees" by the Syrian government.
The Security Council is expected to vote on Thursday. China is expected to follow Russia and use its veto. Britain, the US and the other governments that back the referral say the resolution still has symbolic and moral value.
The 58 countries, led by Switzerland, appealed to all 193 UN member states to co-sponsor the resolution, under which the ICC would be authorized to investigate allegations.
BA/BA
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