aaron.jorb.in

After Russia (along with China) vetoed a resolution on Syria back in October, the UN Security Council has remained in a stalemate. This week though, Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the UN, introduced a draft resolution on Syria that while not strong, does put some pressure on the al-Assad government to end the attacks on its own people.

Churkin told reporters that he hoped the resolution would help “stop violence, uphold human rights” and expedite government reforms. “We all believe the Security Council must do something.” He said the council should not play a role that would “fan the conflict” but instead “bring an end to the crisis.”

via Turtle Bay

I find the language pretty soft, with the resolution mainly calling for both sides to follow the peace process plan laid out by the Arab League. The most interesting part is the decision to readdress the situation in thirty days, which I take to mean that Russia might be open to more concrete action if the situation does not improve.

Homs, Syria. Photo by Syrialooks.Used under a Creative Commons license

The last major uprising against an al-Assad regime in Syria ended with a massacre in the city of Hama. Reports differ as too how many people actually die. The Syrian Human Rights Committee says 30,000. Journalist Robert Fisk says 20,000. Even the Hafez al-Assad regime admitted to1,000at the time. Are we headed down a similar path now in the city of Homs?

The Syrian government has warned protesters in the city of Homs to stop demonstrations, hand in weapons and surrender defecting military members by Monday night or face bombardment, an opposition leader said.

via Syrian opposition: Bloodbath could be imminent in Homs – CNN.com.

The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have already been killed in the current uprising. The Syrian government is describing its soldiers that have been killed as martyrs. How many more need to die before this ends?