The UN Security Council votes later today on a western nations draft resolution to end the violence in Syria. The voting will take place around 7.30 PM IST. The resolution calls for sanctions on Syria under Chapter VII of UN Charter if the regime doesn’t withdraw heavy weapons and troops from cities and towns within 10 days. The British resolution prepared by US, France, Germany and Portugal has proposed a 45 days extension to the UN Observer Mission in Syria. The voting is significant since the Security Council has to decide the future of 300 strong UN Observer Mission in Syria whose 90 days mandate expires tomorrow.

Russia has said it would block any resolution which calls for sanctions on Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told in Moscow that Russia is opposed to sanctions and any mention of Chapter 7. He said British text amounted to support for the rebels and would lead to more bloodshed. Ahead of the vote, talks between US President Barak Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin failed to bridge the divide over the resolution on Syria.

UN special envoy on Syria, Kofi Annan met Russian leaders in Moscow and urged the 15 member council to unite and take concerted and strong action to end the bloodshed in Syria and help a political transition. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon met the top Chinese leaders in Beijing and called on them to take a collective action with a sense of unity. Russia and China have earlier vetoed two Security Council Resolutions on Syria.
Russia has put another draft resolution which seeks to extend the mandate of UN Observer mission in Syria by 90 days without sanctions. In case the Western nations draft resolution is vetoed, Russia text may be put to vote. However it is unlikely since Russia doesn’t have the minimum nine votes required to move the proposal.