Russia and China veto UN resolution to refer Syria to international criminal court

Russia and China have vetoed a draft UN resolution calling for the crisis in Syria to be referred to the international criminal court, the Guardian reports on Thursday. 

Russian envoy to UN Vitaly Churkin had earlier dismissed the vote as a "publicity stunt" and warned that if the resolution had passed it would hinder efforts to end the country's three-year war. However, no peace negotiations are currently taking place.

Thirteen of the security council's 15 members voted in favour of the resolution. Russia and China both cast their vetoes, the newspaper informs.