Syria Crisis: UN General Assembly Resolution Approved Backing Arab Plan Calling For Assad To Step Down

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution backing an Arab League plan that calls for Syria's president to step down and strongly condemns human rights violations by his regime.

The vote in the 193-member world body was 137-12 with 17 abstentions.

Russia and China, who vetoed a similar resolution in the Security Council, voted against the resolution.

There are no vetoes in the General Assembly and while their resolutions are not legally binding, they do reflect world opinion on major issues.

Supporters were hoping for a high "yes" vote to deliver a strong message to President Bashar Assad to immediately end all human rights violations and attacks on civilians and hand power to his vice-president.

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Comments

[Nighthawlk]

08:37 AM on 02/17/2012

They can vote all they want but to take any direct action to remove Assad extends beyond the limits established by the UN Charter. However, [ I think that ] the Security Council can determine if there is enough evidence to arrest and prosecute Assad in the World Court.

In the third world countries that have been involved in civil war and have committed atrocities for years have been over looked or refused to call for the leadership to step down.

[kolokot]

03:18 PM on 02/17/2012

...and the atrocities committed by first world counties would never be prosecuted because nobody prosecutes rich and powerful. It seems that there are atrocities committed when, example is Syria, 5000 people are killed as a result of an armed uprising. However there are no atrocities committed when a superpower attacks a third world county, basically defenseless, under falls reasons, as a result of which between 100,000 and 1,000,000 civilians are killed. Speaking of the 0.1% of people belonging to the ruling class...which is untouchable. Justice, yeah!

[procrustes13]

07:16 AM on 02/17/2012

Not only does this violate the UN Charter, but people are going to die because of it.

[Json]

06:42 AM on 02/17/2012

Of course this resolution has no actual effect. The whole point is to show the Syrian regime that the world is becoming more and more united against the Assad.
It is an implied threat of possible actions to come.

[Nightangle]

05:25 AM on 02/17/2012

OF FAILED DIPLOMACY, SANCTIONS, BULLIES, BLOOD AND OIL.

The US interest and strategic motive center on oil, gas and pipelines disguised as multicolor­ed revolution to expand its "brand" of democracy. Such farce.

Sanctions failed . . . . as always, only meant to bully countries - Afghanistan, the Balkans, Belarus, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe.

YEMEN AND NOW SYRIA - guised as "humanitarianism". Where are these "altuistic-mongers" when 7 millions Africans died of hunger; 6 million displaced and left for dead in the dessert after they bombed Iraq ?

The real goal is to destabiliz­e regimes, forced regime changes, to full blown civil war, and now nuclear contagion. THE MEETING OF BLOOD AND OIL.

The UN Security Council - Russia and China will vote against further sanctions as they were bamboozled by our leaders and their half hearted diplomacy - underminin­g and invalidation of Tehran Declaratio­n following the US benchmark calling it a "trick". US, France, Britain - permanent members of the Security Council embarking on global conflict but going bankrupt. Casualties of their own weaknesses. Ironic.

China and Russia are fast learners.

Russia has embarked on an ambitious program to rebuilt its economy with its new found oil dominance and high technology sectors, 9th most highest GDP.

China #1 geopolitic­al-eminence-in-waiting fully engaged in 21st century industrial­ization and booming economy.

Bullies never learned the lessons of history. Call it Karma.

[Siebenstein]

05:12 AM on 02/17/2012

Please, lets help these people, please.

[TomMartin]

05:57 AM on 02/17/2012

We don't have enough soldiers and money for that war.

[Questioning Conventions]

08:29 AM on 02/17/2012

that's what china and russia just did

you were apparently going to try to act as in instigator in their internal problems and try to send a whole bunch of weapons into the country in an attempt at regime change.

[demsrsilly]

05:07 AM on 02/17/2012

The UN is useless.

[twenlil]

04:18 AM on 02/17/2012

The French wants to go back to Syria and bombed them like in their good old days. Sorry, France, you cannot do that without incurring the wrath from Putin !

[cornel]

02:54 AM on 02/17/2012

LMAO, this has a much punch as Daffy Duck saying to Speedy Gonzales, stop to run !

[bunty4321r]

02:49 AM on 02/17/2012

When veto power does more harm than good for human beings live then such power need to be reviewed and adjusted to commensurate the need to stop its misuse. Why not delegate such power to the UN General Assembly for equity of Justice.

[skraeling]

02:44 AM on 02/17/2012

Maybe it is time the world also focused on Saudi Arabia who, I am certain, is funding this civil war in a proxy fight with Iran as to who will be king of the oil patch....last I saw, Iran had nothing to do with 9/11, but Saudi Arabia did......so lets bomb Syria.

[Ben Cohn]

02:43 AM on 02/17/2012

This is one of the very rare times where the Arab League is leading the way on something the West generally agrees with, with China and Russia being the holdups. This is an opportunity to improve relations that should not go unheeded.

[jancf]

04:27 AM on 02/17/2012

The Arab League has done this a few times recently - Libya comes to mind. They were also in Syria as observers and mediators, although it turned out to be futile due to the incredible mess that is Syria.

[zenju2]

02:37 AM on 02/17/2012

The UN...about as much impact as a declaration of support from Monty Python's People's Front of Judea:
Reg: [arriving at Brian's crucifixion] Hello, Sibling Brian.
Brian: Thank God you've come, Reg.
Reg: Well, I think I should point out first, Brian, in all fairness, we are not, in fact, the rescue committee. However, I have been asked to read the following prepare statement on behalf of the movement. "We the People's Front of Judea, brackets, officials, end brackets, do hereby convey our sincere fraternal and sisterly greetings to you, Brian, on this, the occasion of your martyrdom. "
Brian: What?
Reg: "Your death will stand as a landmark in the continuing struggle to liberate the parent land from the hands of the Roman imperialist aggressors, excluding those concerned with drainage, medicine, roads, housing, education, viniculture and any other Romans contributing to the welfare of Jews of both sexes and hermaphrodites. Signed, on behalf of the P. F. J. , etc. " And I'd just like to add, on a personal note, my own admiration, for what you're doing for us, Brian, on what must be, after all, for you a very difficult time."

[KIVPossum]

01:59 AM on 02/17/2012

Had a business meeting with a man from Syria last night. Took us 20 minutes to do business, then 3 hours for me to get a course in the events there and the views of the people. Changed my opinion of the situation quite a bit.

[Eleanor Ruby Moon]

02:49 AM on 02/17/2012

From what to what?

[GypsyRose]

02:55 AM on 02/17/2012

Hi K, care to elaborate, i.e., your pre v post position? Just curious, thanks.

[KIVPossum]

03:35 AM on 02/17/2012

I was not convinced this was a movement supported by the majority (considered it much like Libya where we allowed a minority to take over the country). He gave me some insight into the absolute corruption at all levels of government, down to the street cops. He is of the opinion that if Assad doesn't go quick and peacefully, there will be a fundamental element that will take over future governments (such as has happened in Egypt and Libya), rather than a move to democracy.

[Noodlegirl]

12:37 AM on 02/17/2012

Someone forgot to tell the killers in the kremlin.

[skraeling]

02:44 AM on 02/17/2012

The US is the killing champ these days..just sayin..

[reality4u2]

12:32 AM on 02/17/2012

The UN is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

[KIVPossum]

01:59 AM on 02/17/2012

Since the leader in vetos is the US, are you will to accept some of the responsibility

[reality4u2]

08:05 AM on 02/17/2012

Get out of it, veto the whole thing.

[skraeling]

02:45 AM on 02/17/2012

It is if you are starving in Africa and elsewhere....

[reality4u2]

08:04 AM on 02/17/2012

Sure...