UN adopts Syria resolution

From The Australian: UN adopts Syria resolution [November 01, 2005]: By Gerard Aziakou in New York November 01, 2005 ...

The UN Security Council overnight unanimously adopted a resolution demanding full Syrian cooperation with the UN probe into the murder of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafiq Hariri but dropping any immediate threat of sanctions.

The resolution, sponsored by Britain, France and the United States, calls for Damascus to detain suspects and urges a travel ban and a freeze of assets on all individuals designated as suspects in Mr Hariri's killing.

But to gain crucial support from veto-wielding China and Russia as well as Algeria, the only Arab member of the council, Britain, France and the United States dropped a reference threatening economic and diplomatic sanctions under the UN Charter. Instead the resolution warned that if Syria fails to cooperate with the UN probe into the slaying of Mr Hariri in February, the council 'if necessary, could consider further action'. It did not say what the action could be.

However the resolution preamble stated that 'this terrorist act and its implications constitute a threat to international peace and security' and makes it clear that the council is acting under chapter seven of the UN charter, which provides for sanctions in case of a threat to world peace....