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Diplomats: UN General Assembly expected to approve Syria resolution backing political change

  • By EDITH M. LEDERER  Associated Press
  • May 15, 2013 - 3:11 am EDT

UNITED NATIONS — Diplomats say the U.N. General Assembly is expected to approve an Arab-backed resolution calling for a political transition in Syria and strongly condemning President Bashar Assad's regime for escalating the use of heavy weapons.

But the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private, said the resolution will not have as much support as the assembly's previous resolution on Syria last August.

The 193-member world body is scheduled to vote Wednesday morning on the resolution, which also condemns Syria's "gross violations" of human rights, assembly spokesman Nikola Jovanovic said Tuesday.

Russia has urged U.N. members to vote "no," and Argentina asked Qatar, the lead sponsor, to water down language welcoming the establishment of the Syrian National Coalition, the main opposition group, which it refused to change.

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PHOTO: In this Tuesday, April. 30, 2013 photo, a Lebanese man passes in front of a large poster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, and two Alawite fighters killed in Syria with Arabic writing that reads, "at your service, oh Assad," and, "bullets will not terrify us and we are not scared of traitors," in the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen in the northern port city of Tripoli, Lebanon. Lebanese members of the Syrian leader's Alawite sect fear their tiny community will be a casualty of the civil war raging in the neighboring country. Already, Sunni extremists have stoned a school bus, vandalized stores and beaten or stabbed a number of men in a wave of attacks against Lebanese Alawites, raising fears of more violence should Assad be removed from power. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

In this Tuesday, April. 30, 2013 photo, a Lebanese man passes in front of a large poster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, and two Alawite fighters killed in Syria with Arabic writing that reads, "at your service, oh Assad," and, "bullets will not terrify us and we are not scared of traitors," in the predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen in the northern port city of Tripoli, Lebanon. Lebanese members of the Syrian leader's Alawite sect fear their tiny community will be a casualty of the civil war raging in the neighboring country. Already, Sunni extremists have stoned a school bus, vandalized stores and beaten or stabbed a number of men in a wave of attacks against Lebanese Alawites, raising fears of more violence should Assad be removed from power. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

 

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