BEIJING — China voiced support on Tuesday for Syria's crackdown on
pro-democracy protests and said a UN Security Council resolution on the
nation was unlikely to ease tensions there.
Syrian Deputy Foreign
Minister Faisal al-Mekdad was currently in Beijing and was slated to
hold talks with Chinese Foreign Ministry Yang Jiechi, ministry
spokeswoman Jiang Yu told journalists.
"The Chinese government
supports the efforts made by Syria to safeguard its national
sovereignty and stability and also hopes to see the early restoration
of stability and normalcy in Syria," Jiang said.
"Under the
current circumstances, we believe that the adoption of UN Security
Council resolutions will do no good toward the relaxation of tensions
in Syria."
The United Nations on Monday condemned the "shocking"
brutality of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, as activists said at
least 15 people were killed in the latest crackdown on pro-democracy
protesters.
For a second straight day, dozens of tanks circled towns and villages in the Homs area, north of Damascus.
At
least 15 people were shot dead on Sunday and Monday in Rastan and
Talbisa, towns in the flashpoint central region of Homs, an activist
told AFP, declining to be identified for security reasons.
A
draft resolution distributed to the 15 Security Council members
condemns violence used by the Syrian regime and calls for the lifting
of a weeks-long siege against the southern flashpoint city of Daraa.
Britain,
France, Germany and Portugal believe they could get nine votes to pass
a resolution but still fear a veto by China or Russia, two of the five
permanent members who can block any resolution, diplomats said.
