Russia Vetoes U.N. Demand for End to Bombing of Syria's Aleppo

Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution on Syria for the fifth time since the conflict began in 2011.

People dig in the rubble in an ongoing search for survivors at a site hit previously by an airstrike in the rebel-held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Sept. 26.ABDALRHMAN ISMAIL / Reuters

Oct. 8, 2016, 6:08 PM EDT / Updated Oct. 8, 2016, 6:08 PM EDT

By Reuters

UNITED NATIONS — Russia vetoed a French-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have demanded an immediate end to air strikes and military flights over Syria's Aleppo city and called for a truce and humanitarian aid access throughout Syria.

It is the fifth time Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution on Syria during the more than five-year conflict. The previous four times Moscow was backed by Beijing, but on Saturday China abstained from the vote.

Aleppo Under Siege as Ceasefire Crumbles

01:12

Angola also abstained, while Venezuela joined Russia in voting against the text. Eleven of the 15 council members voted in favor of the draft resolution.

A U.N. resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to be adopted. The veto powers are the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China.

Reuters