By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS Jan 30 (Reuters) – The Arab League
will ask the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to adopt a
resolution endorsing an Arab plan for Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad to transfer powers to his deputy, but it is unclear
whether Russia will veto, abstain or vote “yes.”
Tuesday’s meeting of the 15-nation council will include Arab
League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, among other officials.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is not expected to
attend.
A vote on the resolution drafted by Europeans and Arabs
could come before the end of the week, diplomats say.
Russia and China vetoed a European-drafted resolution in
October that condemned Syria and threatened it with sanctions.
The new draft resolution, obtained by Reuters, calls for a
“political transition” in Syria. While it does not call for
military action or U.N. sanctions against Syria, it does say
that the Security Council could “adopt further measures” if
Damascus does not comply with the terms of the resolution.
Veto-power China, as well as South Africa, India and
Pakistan, also have reservations about the draft but are
expected to follow Russia’s lead when the text is put to a vote,
U.N. envoys say. Resolutions pass if they get nine votes in
favor and no vetoes.
Western envoys say 10 nations have pledged to vote “yes.”
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