Diplomatic failure prompts Syrian oppositon to demand international action

The Syrian National Council, the country’s main opposition umbrella group, has called on the UN to continue to threaten sanctions against the Syrian government.

The call comes after meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN envoy Kofi Annan failed to produce any progress on a new Security Council resolution on Syria.

Russia has backed the Assad regime since the start of the uprising 16-months ago and opposes any measure that involves foreign interference:

Bassma Kodmani is the head of foreign relations for The Syrian National Council:
“We have never advocated the Libyan scenario as such because we know it’s a costly one. And this is our message to those countries, in particularly to Russia who is blocking a decision by the Security Council. Today a resolution under chapter 7, from our perspective, is the best way to avoid a military solution in Syria.”

As diplomacy continues to fail the fighting continues in the capital Damascus with opposition forces reporting the downing of a government helicopter.

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