Syria: Russia and China veto UN resolution on Syria - by Anita Snow

Russia and China have vetoed a Security Council resolution backing an Arab League peace plan that calls for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. The other 13 council members, including the US, France and Britain, voted in favor of the resolution aimed at stopping the ongoing violence in Syria.

The vote took place as Syrian forces pummeled the city of Homs with mortar and artillery fire that activists say killed more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest episodes of the uprising against Assad's regime. The UN says more than 5,400 people have been killed over almost 11 months in a Syrian government crackdown on civilian protests.

In Europe, protesters reacted by forcing their way into the Syrian diplomatic base in Athens, while similar scenes played out at embassies in Berlin, Cairo and Kuwait yesterday. Angry scenes erupted outside the Syrian embassy in London today just hours after a number of demonstrators were arrested for storming into the building.

For more: Russia and China veto UN resolution on Syria - Middle East - World - The Independent