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Annan asks UN Security Council to delay vote on Syria: Britain

18 July 2012 22:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan Wednesday asked the Security Council to delay its vote on a draft resolution concerning the extension of UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), according to British Mission to the UN, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Joint Special Envoy Annan has asked to delay todayâ€™s draft Syria resolution vote. With fellow co-sponsors weâ€™re considering that request," said British Mission on Twitter.

The 15-member UN Security Council is scheduled to vote a draft resolution proposed by western powers later Wednesday afternoon.

The draft, proposed by France, Germany, Portugal, Britain and the United States, grants extension of UNSMIS for a period of 45 days, and threatens non-military sanctions by quoting Chapter VII of the UN Charter if the Syrian government fails to pull out troops and heavy weapons from populated areas.

As the mandate of UNSMIS, which comprises 300 unarmed military observers, expires on July 20, the Security Council must decide whether to extend it or not by then.

The Security Council now remained divided on this issues. Ambassadors from five permanent members of the Security Council -- Russia, United States, France, Britain and China -- are planned to hold negotiations on whether delay the vote or not.

Russia is opposed to any draft with threat of sanctions against Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters Wednesday in Moscow that consequences of unilateral sanctions against Damascus would lead the country to a civil war.