Russia must ‘look at its conscience’ over Syria, says David Cameron

Published on Wednesday 8 February 2012 16:17

DAVID Cameron said today that Russia has to “look at its conscience” after its decision to veto a UN resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quit.

The Prime Minister said the international community had to now work with Syrian opposition groups both inside and outside the country to co-ordinate a concerted opposition to Mr Assad’s regime.

He accused Russia and China of “setting themselves against” Arab and world opinion by their decision to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Syria’s president to step down.

But he said the British Government would continue to “fight” to end the “absolutely appalling” crackdown by the country’s forces on civilians.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Cameron added he had “very little confidence” that unilateral intervention by Russia would end the violence in Syria, telling MPs Foreign Secretary William Hague was “right to push” for a UN resolution.

The Prime Minister said: “Frankly, Russia and China set themselves against Arab opinion and world opinion in passing what would have been a strong and good UN resolution.

“What we now need to see, and Britain will be playing a big part in this, is real engagement with the opposition groups both inside and outside Syria - bringing together the strongest possible international alliance through a contact group so that we can co-ordinate our efforts with respect to getting rid of this dreadful regime and then making sure with the EU and other bodies we continue with the sanctions and pressure.

“I think the bloodshed in Syria is absolutely appalling. I think the Russians have to look at their consciences and realise what they have done.

“But the rest of the world will keep on fighting as hard as it can to give the Syrian people a chance to choose their own future.”

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