Russia revises Syria resolution

MOSCOW - The Associated Press

Russia circulated a revised U.N. Security Council resolution on the violence in Syria on Jan. 16 but Western diplomats said it fell short of their demand for strong condemnation of President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on civilians.

Russia took the council by surprise in mid-December, introducing a draft resolution that called on all parties to stop the violence. Diplomats said the draft resolution sent to the 15 council nations Jan. 16 doesn’t appear to be a compromise. Rather than producing new language, diplomats said, the Russians included their original text alongside most amendments proposed by other council members but Moscow didn’t make clear whether it has accepted any changes or not. The diplomats said council experts were expected to meet yesterday afternoon to discuss the new draft.