Russia said it was surprised that the United States was backing an "odious" resolution at the UN Human Rights Council condemning the Syrian regime's use of foreign fighters, saying it undermined peace efforts.
"To my huge astonishment, we have learnt that apart from the co-authors of this resolution -- these are Qatar and Turkey -- a US delegation is most actively promoting this completely unwholesome idea," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.
Lavrov, who held talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris on Monday, said he had raised the issue with the US top diplomat.
"It turned out he was unaware of this situation. He promised to sort it out," Lavrov said.
"I do not know whether he managed to do that or not," the Russian minister added, calling the draft resolution "odious."
Russia and the United States have been pushing for a peace conference to end the Syrian conflict.
Lavrov warned that for the peace efforts to work, it was imperative to avoid what he called "double standards."
"Everyone needs to work honestly and not allow double standards: verbally promote the conference and support this initiative but in reality take steps that essentially are aimed at undermining this proposal," he warned.
The draft resolution to be considered at the Human Rights Council later Wednesday "condemns the intervention of foreign combatants fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime" in the besieged town of Al-Qusayr, an implicit reference to the involvement of fighters from Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah in the fierce battle for the strategic town.
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