UN likely to vote next week on Syria sanctions: diplomat

The UN Security Council is likely to vote next week on a draft resolution that would slap sanctions on Syria over the use of chemical weapons but Russia is almost certain to veto the measure, a senior diplomat said Thursday. Britain, France and the United States are pushing for a ban on the sale of helicopters to Syria and sanctions on 11 Syrians and 10 entities linked to chemical attacks in the nearly six-year war. A joint investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has concluded that the Syrian military carried out chemical attacks against three villages in 2014 and 2015. "This is the significant response that the Security Council committed to do in the event of proven use of CW in Syria," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The US, UK and France are very clear that this is an issue of principle," he said, adding that Russia's ambassador said at a meeting last week that Moscow would block the measure. Russia has used its veto six times to shield its Damascus ally from any punitive action. China, another veto-wielding Security Council member, is expected to abstain in the vote. France and Britain presented drafts on imposing sanctions on Syria in December, but held off on action to give the new US administration time to study it. The latest draft, seen by AFP, would impose a global travel ban and assets freeze on 11 Syrians, mostly military officials including the head of Syrian air force intelligence and the commander of air operations in areas where attacks occurred. These commanders are said to have been involved in attacks by helicopters that dropped chlorine barrel-bombs on the villages of Qmenas, Talmenes and Sarmin. Syria has denied using chemical weapons while Russia has dismissed the panel's findings as "inconclusive." The Security Council is due to discuss chemical weapons use in Syria during a meeting on Friday.