UN envoy hopes Security Council will adopt Syria resolution

UN special envoy Kofi Annan hopes that members of the Security Council will manage to adopt a resolution on Syria, RIA Novosti reports.

Annan was making a statement after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The UN Security Council will vote on Wednesday on a Western-backed resolution that threatens the Syrian authorities with sanctions if they do not stop using heavy weapons in towns, despite a declaration by Russia that it will block the move.

The resolution, proposed by Britain, the United States, France and Germany, would extend a UN observer mission in Syria for 45 days and place international envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

Chapter 7 allows the 15-member council to authorise actions ranging from diplomatic and economic sanctions to military intervention. US officials have said they are talking about sanctions against Syria, not military intervention.