Syria crisis: Russia blocks UN statement on Aleppo attacks Published duration 9 January 2014 Related Topics Syrian civil war

image copyright Reuters image caption Air strikes have reduced many areas of Aleppo to rubble

Russia has blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the Syrian government's use of air strikes against civilians in the city of Aleppo.

Attacks using barrel bombs and Scud missiles by President Bashar al-Assad's forces have killed hundreds of people.

A UN diplomat said Russia put forward amendments to the UK-sponsored statement that removed reference to what had happened in Aleppo.

Russia, a key ally of Syria, last month blocked a similar US-drafted statement.

Russia, joined by China, has also vetoed three Security Council resolutions that would have condemned the Syrian government and threatened it with sanctions.

The latest statement would have had the council express outrage at daily air strikes by the Syrian government in Aleppo.

The embattled city, once Syria's business hub, is now divided between government and rebel forces.

A UN diplomat quoted by AP news agency said Russia had introduced amendments that watered the statement down so that it had no meaningful impact on the situation in Aleppo.

The UK could no longer support the draft language, the diplomat said.

As consensus is required for adoption among the 15 Security Council members, the draft was effectively blocked.