Russia, China again veto Syria resolution

 Russia and China again vetoed a Western-backed U.N. resolution Thursday threatening sanctions against President Bashar Assad's government if it didn't stop using heavy weapons in the escalating 16-month conflict.

The 11-2 vote, with two abstentions from South Africa and Pakistan, was the third double veto of a Syria resolution by Damascus' most important allies.

The vote also leaves in limbo the future of the 300-strong U.N. observer mission in Syria, whose mandate expires Friday.

It was a blow to Kofi Annan, the joint U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, who had called for "consequences" for non-compliance with his six-point peace plan, which the Assad government has flouted.

Annan had requested a delay in Wednesday's vote on the resolution and appealed to the council to unite behind a new resolution, but Moscow wouldn't budge and the West insisted on including the threat of non-military sanctions under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.

That could eventually open the door to the use of military force.