UN Security Council postpones vote on Syria draft resolution

The Security Council has postponed a vote on a draft resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria, till 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT) on Saturday, said Kuwaiti ambassador to the United Nations Mansour Al-Otaibi.


Al-Otaibi, who is president of the Security Council for the month of February, said the council members failed to reach consensus on Friday after rounds of closed-door consultations.

He said the council members were "very close" to consensus but failed to close all the gaps.

"We are working to have a consensual draft resolution and hopefully the council will be united and all of them -- the 15 -- will vote in favor," he said.

The resolution, drafted by Kuwait and Sweden, demands a 30-day ceasefire across Syria so that humanitarian aid can be through and those critically ill can be evacuated from besieged areas. A vote on the text was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) Friday.

Swedish UN ambassador Olof Skoog said he was "extremely frustrated" by the impasse on Friday.
 (chinamedia)
 24/2/18
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