China lashes out over Syria

2012-08-04 16:24

AP

Beijing - China on Saturday accused countries that oppose its position on Syria of undermining attempts to find a political solution to the conflict, after voting against a new UN resolution on the crisis.

The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly passed a resolution slamming the Security Council's failure to take strong steps to end the fighting, which UN leader Ban Ki-moon said has become a "proxy war".

Russia and China, which have vetoed three UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, were among high-profile opponents of the resolution which many diplomats said showed frustration at the lack of action on the conflict.

Wang Kejian, a senior official in the Chinese foreign ministry, attacked countries "which have made unfounded criticism of China's position on the issue of Syria".

"And these countries, in pursuit of their own geopolitical interests in Syria, are trying to hinder or even undermine the political settlement process."

"The legitimate requests and aspirations of the Syrian people for change and for safeguarding their own interests deserve respect," he added.

The assembly's resolution, which condemned President Bashar Assad's use of "heavy weapons" in the civil war, was passed by 133 votes with 12 countries against and 31 abstaining.

Though the resolution is not legally binding, there was increased attention on the vote after the resignation of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and the mounting battle for the Syrian city of Aleppo.

- AFP