India has said its support for a UN Security Council draft resolution backing an Arab League peace plan for a Syrian-led political resolution of the conflict was in accordance with its consistent stand on the issue.

India’s permanent representative to the UN Hardeep Puri in a statement said the resolution expressly rules out any measure under the UN Charter and calls for serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the opposition under the auspices of the League of Arab States.

Mr Puri said the political dialogue should be built upon the political reforms already announced by the Syrian leadership with necessary changes so that they find acceptance among all sections of Syrian society. The draft resolution, was however, vetoed by Russia and China.

Mr Puri expressed India's concern with the present situation which, he said, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and security forces personnel over the last ten months.

Mr Puri made it clear that India was against all violations of human rights and all forms of violence, irrespective of who were its perpetrators.

Mr Puri said India had already impressed upon the Syrian side to abjure violence and pay heed to the aspirations of the people of Syria. He reiterated that India was firmly of the view that a political process for resolution of the present crisis should be led by the Syrians themselves.