UNITED NATIONS – The UN General Assembly Friday overwhelmingly voted to condemn the Syrian government and demanded a political transition in Syria, which has seen 17 months of fighting between forces loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad and opposition fighters. The 193-nation assembly approved the resolution, which expressed “grave concern” at the escalation of violence in Syria, with 133 votes in favor, 12 against and 31 abstentions. Dozens of other countries, including many Western states, co-sponsored the resolution. As expected, Assad's staunch ally Russia was among the 12 countries that opposed the resolution in the Assembly, where no country has a veto but all decisions are non-binding. Others that voted against it included China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba and others nations that often criticize the West. Some countries did not participate in the vote. The resolution has the Assembly “deploring the failure of the Security Council to agree on measures to ensure the compliance of Syrian authorities with its decisions.” It also calls for “an inclusive Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, pluralistic political system.” US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice welcomed the adoption of the resolution. “Despite the continued opposition of an increasingly isolated minority, the overwhelming majority of UN members clearly stands resolutely with the Syrian people as they seek to fulfill their legitimate aspirations,” Rice said. Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters after the vote that a “colossal majority” supported the resolution, which had been revised to remove language explicitly backing Arab League calls for Assad to step down and urging states to implement sanctions against Damascus. But the resolution still welcomes an Arab League decision calling for Assad to step aside. Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said “the number of votes in favor has exceeded all of our expectations.” French Ambassador Gerard Araud, president of the Security Council this month, also welcomed the adoption of the resolution, but said it was unfortunate the Council has been unable to act the way that the Assembly did. “The Security Council is blocked,” he said. “I don't see how we could move forward on this issue.” – Agencies
