AFP

NEW YORK THE UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Friday criticising the Security Council’s failure to act on the Syria conflict, which UN leader Ban Ki-moon said has become a “proxy war”.

The resolution, which condemned President Bashar al Assad’s use of “heavy weapons” in his battle against the rebellion against his rule, was passed by 133 votes with 12 countries against and 31 abstaining.

Russia and China, which have vetoed three UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, were among high profile opponents of the resolution.

Many diplomats said Friday’s vote was a show of frustration and anger at the lack of international action on the conflict.

Though the resolution is not legally binding, there was increased attention on the General Assembly action after the resignation of UNArab League envoy Kofi Annan and the mounting battle for the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The resolution said members deplored “the Security Council failure to agree on measures” to make the Syrian government carry out UN demands to end almost 18 months of fighting.

It condemned “the Syrian authorities use of heavy weapons including indiscriminate shelling from tanks and helicopters” and demanded that the government refrain from using its chemical weapons.

Saudi Arabia drew up the resolution with Arab and western backing and its UN envoy said the success of the vote was “painful victory” because of events in Syria.

After the vote, Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al Mouallimi told reporters the double vetoes gave “the impression that the Security Council was turning a blind eye to the painful reality.” He said there was “a consensus that does not support the paralysis of the Security Council, a consensus that says the United Nations cannot be oblivious to the suffering of the Syrian people, a consensus that demands action.”