Syria war: Russia says no agreement on ceasefire resolution

Russia says it wants changes to a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Syria amid growing outrage over civilian deaths in a rebel enclave under Syrian government bombardment.

Russia's UN ambassador called for "feasible" not "populist" action. But Western diplomats say Russia is stalling for time and France said failure to act could spell the end of the Security Council itself.

Activists say 400 people have been killed in Eastern Ghouta in five days. The UN body in New York is due to vote on the resolution on Friday at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT).


Russia, one of five powers that can veto a resolution, is a key backer of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. Western powers suspect that Moscow wants to give its ally time to deal a final blow to rebel forces.

The United States, the UK and France are calling for the resolution to be approved without delay.