France's foreign minister said Tuesday his country was working on a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at stopping Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces from using barrel bombs against his population.
The resolution has little chance of clearing the Security Council, where Assad's staunch ally Russia has often blocked efforts to condemn him and his government, but could be seen as an alternative to a Russian resolution currently being circulated at the world body.
Western diplomats have said a resolution demanding an end to barrel bombing - something that France has previously been spearheading with Spain - would be helpful as it would emphasize the Syrian government's continued use of such weapons, in clear violation of international law.
"In Syria, what is the objective? First, to strike ISIS," Fabius told French lawmakers when asked what France was doing in Syria.
"Secondly, obtain the end of the dynamite bombardments by Bashar Assad of the civilian population and a resolution will be put forward in this sense. Thirdly, there isn't just military action, but obviously political action to plead and act for a political transition," he said, describing Assad as the "executioner" of the Syrian people.
A French official confirmed that talks were taking place with Britain and the United States over the possibility of putting forward an alternative U.N. Security Council to the Russian one.
Moscow circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member Security Council on Sept. 30 that would urge states involved in military efforts against ISIS and other militants to coordinate with the countries where they are operating.
With Moscow now conducting airstrikes in Syria, including against Western-backed rebels, and urging cooperation in military activities with Assad's government, the prospects for the Russian resolution to succeed also appear dim.
Western states as well as human rights groups have repeatedly accused Assad's forces of using barrel bombs - steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives dropped from the air.
Since barrel bombs are considered to be an indiscriminate weapon, their use in civilian areas is already banned under international conventions.
But the chances of a specific resolution that would target Assad clearing the Security Council are very slim.
Russia and China have already used their veto four times to block Security Council action in Syria, including one that would have referred the Syria conflict to the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity.
The resolution has little chance of clearing the Security Council, where Assad's staunch ally Russia has often blocked efforts to condemn him and his government, but could be seen as an alternative to a Russian resolution currently being circulated at the world body.
Western diplomats have said a resolution demanding an end to barrel bombing - something that France has previously been spearheading with Spain - would be helpful as it would emphasize the Syrian government's continued use of such weapons, in clear violation of international law.
"In Syria, what is the objective? First, to strike ISIS," Fabius told French lawmakers when asked what France was doing in Syria.
"Secondly, obtain the end of the dynamite bombardments by Bashar Assad of the civilian population and a resolution will be put forward in this sense. Thirdly, there isn't just military action, but obviously political action to plead and act for a political transition," he said, describing Assad as the "executioner" of the Syrian people.
A French official confirmed that talks were taking place with Britain and the United States over the possibility of putting forward an alternative U.N. Security Council to the Russian one.
Moscow circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member Security Council on Sept. 30 that would urge states involved in military efforts against ISIS and other militants to coordinate with the countries where they are operating.
With Moscow now conducting airstrikes in Syria, including against Western-backed rebels, and urging cooperation in military activities with Assad's government, the prospects for the Russian resolution to succeed also appear dim.
Western states as well as human rights groups have repeatedly accused Assad's forces of using barrel bombs - steel drums full of shrapnel and explosives dropped from the air.
Since barrel bombs are considered to be an indiscriminate weapon, their use in civilian areas is already banned under international conventions.
But the chances of a specific resolution that would target Assad clearing the Security Council are very slim.
Russia and China have already used their veto four times to block Security Council action in Syria, including one that would have referred the Syria conflict to the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity.
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