League chief heads to UN over Syria

CAIRO / MOSCOW

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani are to head to New York tomorrow to seek support for an Arab plan on Syria, as the U.N. Security Council could vote as early as next week on a new draft resolution that replaces a Russian draft, Western diplomats said.

On its part, Russia said the country will continue to promote its own draft resolution on Syria.

“Russia introduced its own draft and worked on it taking into account amendments (suggested) by our Western colleagues. It remains on the negotiating table. Consultations on the draft continue and we hope this work will continue,” foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said. 

Meanwhile, Arabi and Al-Thani “hold a meeting with the U.N. Security Council Jan. 30 to seek ratification of the Arab League decision on Syria,” for President Bashar al-Assad to hand power to his deputy, an official said.

Compiled from AFP and Reuters stories by the Daily News staff.