Russia, China join UN demand for Syria peace

(United Nations) – Russia and China have joined the Security Council in voicing support for U.N.-Arab League envoy ‘s bid to end violence that has brought Syria to the brink of civil war.
Western diplomats said the agreement on a statement voicing the “gravest concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria” should be a wake-up call for Assad.
The statement threatens Syria with “further steps” if it fails to comply with Annan’s six-point peace proposal, which calls for a cease-fire, political dialogue between government and opposition, and full access for aid agencies.
Although the statement does not explicitly back an Arab League plan calling for Assad to step aside, it does include Annan’s call for a political process that echoes that plan. It voices “full support for the efforts of (Annan) to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system”.