Syrian opposition says UN veto gives al-Assad "license to kill"

Feb 5, 2012, 9:59 GMT

Cairo - The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday strongly condemned the veto by Russia and China of a United Nations Security Council resolution to end the violence in Syria.

'The SNC holds both governments accountable for the escalation of killings and genocide, and considers this irresponsible step a license for the Syrian regime to kill without being held accountable,' the group made of exiled opposition figures said.

Russia and China on Saturday vetoed the resolution, that came after an Arab League initiative that called on al-Assad to pass on power to his deputy, and recommended forming a transitional government in Syria.

The veto came hours after the death toll in the central province of Homs climbed to 260 after shelling by government troops.

According to UN estimates, more than 5,400 people have been killed since mid-March in the government crackdown on protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

The SNC said it would support the pro-democracy protesters and Free Syrian Army - a group of army defectors - until Syria 'reaches the desired freedom and democracy.'

Army defectors launched several attacks on government troops early Sunday across Syria, killing nine soldiers in the northern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.