File photo shows a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.
Russia has reportedly blocked a Ëœdeclaration of alarmâ„¢ by the United Nations Security Council over the situation in Syriaâ„¢s strategic town of Qusayr.
The draft, which was presented by the UK, voiced Å“grave concern about the situation in Qusayr.”
Western diplomats say Russia rejected the resolution because the UN had failed to release a statement when Qusayr was seized by foreign-backed militants in Syria.
Such UN statements need votes of all the members of the Security Council.
According to the diplomats, Moscow once again insisted that the best way to resolve the Syrian crisis was Å“through intensive diplomacy.”
Qusayr is located near Syriaâ„¢s border with Lebanon and is now mostly under the control of the Syrian army.
The United Nations has called for a ceasefire in Qusayr.
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos and UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay said in a joint appeal on Saturday, Å“We understand there may also be as many as 1,500 wounded people in urgent need of immediate evacuation for emergency medical treatment, and that the general situation in al-Qusayr is desperate.”
Hundreds of militants have reportedly arrived in Qusayr to counter the Syrian government forces, who backed by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, have made major gains in the fighting.
Syria has been gripped by unrest for more than two years. The foreign-sponsored militancy has taken its toll on the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel.
DB/HSN
This article originally appeared on: Press TV