One-sided U.N. vote asks Assad to leave
Members also rip violence in Syria
UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday for a resolution backing an Arab League plan calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down and strongly condemning human rights violations by his regime.
The vote in the 193-member world body on the Arab-sponsored resolution was 137-12 with 17 abstentions. Several countries complained immediately afterward that they were unable to vote due to problems with the U.N.’s voting machine.
Russia and China, who vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council, voted against the General Assembly measure along with North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and others who heeded Syria’s appeal to vote “no.”
Supporters were hoping for a high “yes” vote to deliver a strong message to Assad to hand power to his vice president and immediately stop the bloody crackdown that has killed more than 5,400 people. The measure had over 70 co-sponsors and won support from more than two-thirds of the General Assembly.
“Today, the U.N. General Assembly sent a clear message to the people of Syria: the world is with you,” U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said in a statement. President Assad “has never been more isolated.”
Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi called it “a victory for the Syria people,” the U.N. and the Arab League.
There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, and while their resolutions are not legally binding, they do reflect world opinion on major issues.