Assad aguenta-se por mais algum tempo

Diplomats at the UN Security Council have watered down a resolution on Syria in an apparent attempt to overcome Russian objections to an earlier draft.

The new text drops explicit reference to a call for President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power, a key part of an Arab League plan.

The Russians have argued that this demand would impose regime change.

However the new text still supports what it calls the League's "decision" to facilitate political transition.

Western diplomats say this means that while the draft no longer mentions the details of the Arab plan, it still clearly backs the substance.

The revised draft - seen by the BBC - also removes a paragraph calling on member states to act to prevent the flow of arms into Syria. This was another clause opposed by Russia even though it does not impose an arms embargo.

Ambassadors began intense negotiations on Wednesday, after a high-level meeting urging the council to back the Arab plan to end the Syrian crisis.

Diplomatic sources say Western states may support the new text - drawn up by Morocco - if it gets a yes vote from Russia, rather than an abstention, according to the BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN headquarters in New York.

So far the Russians have been non-committal, she says.

'Consensus'

Human rights groups and activists say more than 7,000 people have been killed by Syrian security forces since the uprising began in March.

On Wednesday, diplomats said discussions had been positive, with US Ambassador Susan Rice saying talks had been conducted in a "constructive and roll-up-your-sleeves manner".

The Arab League suspended its monitoring mission last month after it failed to stop the violence
However, she also admitted that the call for Mr Assad to delegate powers to his deputy remained "one of the more difficult issues".

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin also said progress had been made, saying: "I think we have a much better understanding of what we need to do to reach consensus."
BBC