Britain, France, Germany and Arab states will call for UN General Assembly vote soon to censure Damascus, says German official.
By REUTERSSyrian Tank 311(photo credit: REUTERS)
UNITED NATIONS - Britain, France, Germany and several Arab states will call for a UN General Assembly vote soon to condemn Syria for nine months of violence against anti-government protesters, German officials said on Wednesday.The three European powers will submit a draft resolution on Thursday with the intention of putting it to a vote in the General Assembly's human rights committee next Tuesday, a spokesman for Germany's UN mission said.RELATED:Arab League gives Syria 3 days to stop bloodshedHe said German, French and British delegations met with some Arab delegations on Wednesday to discuss the text and the outcome of an Arab League meeting on Syria in Rabat."There was strong support to go ahead with the draft resolution," he said. "Some Arab delegations even expressed their intention to co-sponsor the resolution."Several diplomats told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Morocco and Kuwait were considering co-sponsoring the non-binding resolution on Syria.
Diplomats said the human rights committee, which includes all 193 UN member states, was expected to approve the resolution. It would then go to a formal vote in a General Assembly plenary session.The Arab League, which normally shies away from decisive action against its members, decided on Wednesday to ask its experts to draft recommendations on economic sanctions against Syria, whose league membership privileges have been suspended.
