US upbeat about Syria resolution, Russia hesitant

The United States and France are confident a tough resolution against Syria will be adopted at a UN foreign ministers meeting on Monday alth...

The United States and France are confident a tough resolution against Syria will be adopted at a UN foreign ministers meeting on Monday although Russia and China still have misgivings.

“We are very close. We are close to resolving it,” US Ambassador John Bolton told reporters. “We will need what we need to do for this resolution to be ready for consultations on Monday.”

Bolton also said he already had the minimum nine votes needed to adopt a resolution. Some 13 foreign ministers of the 15 council members may attend the session, Bolton said. Syria’s Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara is also expected to speak.

Story continues below this ad

But there was no sign that Russia and China, who have veto power, as well as Algeria, the council’s only Arab member, had agreed on the threat of economic sanctions.

“It is premature and unjustified to talk about sanctions when the investigation is still going on,” said Algeria’s UN ambassador, Abdallah Baali, representing the 22-nation Arab bloc.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to be in New York on Monday. He has expressed his opposition to sanctions. —Reuters

Syria to set up own Hariri killing probe

DAMASCUS: Syria said on Saturday it was setting up a special judicial committee to investigate Syrians implicated in the killing of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. A Foreign Ministry source also said the committee would cooperate with the UN’s International Independent Investigation Commission. REUTERS

Trump announces TikTok deal, surprise China visit ‘early next year’ after call with Xi

World8 hr ago

Trump and Xi had a successful phone call, addressing trade, Fentanyl, and TikTok. They plan to meet at APEC Summit and for Trump to visit China, with Xi visiting the US. Congress wants TikTok to sell its US assets or shut down, but Trump has not enforced this due to the app's value and progress.

View all shorts

Live Blog