U.N. to consider call for Syrian president to step down By the CNN Wire Staff

[tabatha]

United Nations (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council this week will take up a draft resolution proposed by Morocco that calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and transfer power.

"It is primarily a straightforward condemnation of what has transpired, a call upon the government of Syria to adhere to the commitments it made," U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice told reporters about the draft. She noted that it contains no sanctions nor does it threaten the use of force.

...

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia had proposed its own draft resolution calling for the end to violence by all sides, the rejection of foreign interference in Syria and the start of an international dialogue without conditions, SANA said Monday, citing Japanese NHK Television.
...

Morocco's draft resolution calls for al-Assad to step down and supports "full implementation" of the Arab League recommendations on Syria. That would include calling on Syria to form a unity government within two months.

(Is Morocco part of the GCC? Russia?)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/30/world/meast/syria-unrest/?hpt=hp_t3

[PragmaticLiberal]

1. Good.

[brooklynite]

2. "Consider" as in "bring it up for discussion"

Doesn't have a prayer of passing.

[tabatha]

3. Russia is the only sticking point. China will abstain.

[David__77]

4. Hopefully not. They should vote "no."

China's strategic partnership with Russia depends on promoting non-interference in others' internal affairs and supporting multi-polarization of international political power. I wouldn't be surprised if China did abstain though.

In any case, there will be no resolution because it will not pass in the council - there will be no consensus among the veto-holders.

Russia has put forward its own resolutions which the US has also rejected, and is attempting to facilitate peace talks, which some in the opposition would support, and others would not.