Syria war: Russia and China veto sanctions!

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Image captionUN investigations have said that the Syrian government carried out three chemical weapons attacks

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Russia and China have vetoed a UN resolution to impose sanctions on Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons.

It is the seventh time Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to protect the Syrian government.

China has also vetoed six security council resolutions on Syria since the civil war began in 2011.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under an agreement negotiated between Russia and the US.

The Syrian government has previously denied carrying out chemical attacks.

However, investigations by the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog have found that Syrian government forces carried out three chemical weapons attacks in 2014 and 2015.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionChlorine irritates people's eyes and skin and can burn the lungs

The reports said that Syrian air force helicopters dropped chlorine gas on rebel-held areas, twice in March 2015 and once in April 2014.

The use of chlorine as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

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Islamic State militants had also used sulphur-mustard gas in an attack, the watchdog found.

'Sad day'

Tuesday's resolution had been drafted by the US, the UK and France.

It would have banned the sale of helicopters to Syria, and led to sanctions against 11 Syrian commanders or officials, and 10 groups linked to the chemical attacks.

Nine Security Council members supported the resolution, while three - China, Russia and Bolivia - voted against it.

The final three members - Egypt, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia - abstained.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionRussia vetoed the resolution, saying the vote was "based on the anti-regime doctrine of western states"

A Security Council resolution needs nine votes in support, and no vetoes from the five permanent members (the US, France, Russia, UK and China) in order to pass.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said sanctions against Syria would be "totally inappropriate", saying "it would only hurt or undermine confidence" in peace talks.

China's UN ambassador Liu Jieyi said: "We oppose the use of chemical weapons." However, he said it was too soon to impose sanctions as investigations were still ongoing.

However, the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said: "It is a sad day on the Security Council when members start making excuses for other member states killing their own people.

"The world is definitely a more dangerous place."

The UK ambassador Matthew Rycroft said: "Not taking action against chemical weapons' use undermines confidence in the international community's ability to tackle flagrant violations of international law - and undermines the trust of Syrians affected by these horrific attacks."

/BBC