World

Draft UN resolution on Syria by Russia

13:48 pm on 16 December 2011

In a surprise move, Russia has circulated a draft resolution at the United Nations aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria.

Western countries have spent months trying to get their own resolution.

The BBC reports the draft condemns the violence by both Syria's government and the opposition, but does not mention sanctions.

Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough, but that they were prepared to work on the document.

The West has been pushing the council to act on Syria for months, but Russia and China vetoed their proposals.

Russia circulated the draft resolution among the other 14 UN Security Council members on Thursday.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the document urged an end to the violence, but did not mention any sanctions.

The draft demands that "all parties" in Syria stop violence. But it also includes a new reference to "disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities".

It also "urges the Syrian government to put an end to suppression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association".