UN Security Council to Draft Statement on Syria

COLOMBO (News 1st): United Nations Security Council members will work on a statement on Syria in the coming days, after a closed-door meeting over the rebel seizure of the capital Damascus and ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia told foreign media after the 15-member body met: "The council was more or less united on the need to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria, to ensure the protection of civilians, to ensure that humanitarian aid is coming to the needy population".

Syria's U.N. Ambassador, Koussay Aldahhak told reporters outside the council that his mission and all Syrian embassies abroad had received instructions to continue doing their job and maintain the state institution during the transition period.

According to reports, Russia has diplomatically shielded its ally Assad during the war, casting more than a dozen vetoes at the Security Council, on many occasions backed by China.

The 15-member council has met several times a month throughout the war on Syria's political and humanitarian situations and chemical weapons.

Source: Foreign Media