Syria: China defends use of UN veto as '50 killed' in Homs

CHINA robustly defended itself against Western criticism today following its decision to veto a draft United Nations resolution that urged Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to step down in the face of increasing violence in the Middle Eastern state.

An article in the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist party, said that "by only exerting pressure on the Syrian government the resolution sends the message to armed groups and opponents of his regime that they have the support of the international community".

The article, signed with the name 'Zhong Sheng' which is often used to give the government's position on foreign policy, invokes the spectre of Libya, where with the help of armed intervention by Western powers, the Libyan regime was overthrown.

"But instead of the democracy and freedom they were promised, the Libyan people cannot even live in peace, because the country is in danger of falling into a sectarian civil war." The People's Daily concludes that "a messy civil war in Syria will not be conducive to peace in the Middle East".

The decision by China and Russia to kill the Arab League proposal in the UN Security Council sparked diplomatic outrage among Western nations.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said the two hold-out nations were "selling out the Syrian people and shielding a craven tyrant", while the British government said it was "appalled" by the development, and French president Nicolas Sarkozy "strongly deplored" it.

‘50 killed’ in Homs
Syrian forces have renewed their bombardment of the rebellious city of Homs, firing multiple-rocket launchers at the opposition stronghold of Bab Amro, where Reuters is reporting that an oil pipeline feeding a major refinery has exploded.

The Syrian National Council, the main opposition group, says that more than 50 people were killed this morning alone.

"The tally that we have received from various activists in Homs since the shelling started this morning is 50, mostly civilians. The regime is acting as if it were immune to international intervention and has a free hand to use violence against the people," the SNC's Catherine al-Talli said.

‘Controlled demolition’ of Assad’s ruleReuters reports that a proposed visit this week to Syria by Russia's foreign minister and its spy chief could be the precursor to a "controlled demolition" of Assad's rule. This would allow Moscow to maintain a foothold in the one Middle East country that has always been friendly towards it.

Shashank Joshi, an associate fellow at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, said this would involve “a managed transition to a new regime, shorn of Bashar but built around the loyalists of the Assad dynasty”.

The only problem for Russia is that it has twice vetoed UN resolutions critical of the Assad regime. In doing so it may have lost any chance of finding favour with opposition groups, who might in future hold the balance of power.International pressure grows
Pressure is growing on Western governments to act against Assad's regime. As reported yesterday in The Week, foreign secretary William Hague is facing calls for the Syrian ambassador to the United Kingdom to be expelled. "We constantly review our diplomatic relations. We haven't taken any decision to sever our relations," Hague said in reaction. ·