Ban Ki-moon: Russian Veto disappointing

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed disappointment over the failure of the Security Council to adopt a resolution aimed at addressing the worsening crisis in Syria. In a statement he gave upon arrival in Ljubljana on a visit to Slovenia, as part of a southeast European tour, Ban described the situation in Syria as serious and critical, adding the international community has to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Syrian people, and it is clear that the Syrian government failed to protect the people. The 15-nation Council failed to adopt yesterday a draft resolution, which would have threatened President Bashar Al-Assad's regime with sanctions, after permanent members Russia and China vetoed it. The resolution, proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States, contained specific threat of sanctions if Syrian authorities did not stop using heavy weapons and withdraw troops from towns and cities within 10 days.