DESPITE THIRTEEN Security Council members' favourable votes, vetoes by Russia and China on resolution, condemning President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on his people and calling him to step down, led to its failure.

The UN chief Ban Ki-moon said that Security Council had lost an opportunity to take unified action to end the Syrian crisis. The other Security Council members felt disgusted with the vetoes. It is alleged that Assad's crackdown of last 11 months has left more than 5,400 people dead.

Meanwhile, in Syria, the government soldiers and rebels clashes on Sunday in Idlib province bordering Turkey. While the vetoes have drawn outrage across the world, Russia defended the action saying that the resolution looked ‘ultimatum-like’ demands to remove President Assad. It also accused the supporters of resolution of lacking a political will to solve the crisis. According to China Hour website, Beijing vetoed to oppose what it saw an effort to promote ‘regime change’ in the Arab country through ‘external force’ in violation of international norms.