UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States Tuesday called for a vote this week to set up an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, despite opposition from Russia, China and other Security Council members.The draft resolution would unilaterally create a tribunal outside Lebanon under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which deals with threats to international peace and can be militarily enforced.
The Russians, Chinese and South Africans have publicly called for the Chapter 7 reference to be dropped, saying it's unnecessary. But the three main sponsors - the U.S., France and Britain - have refused, and France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said Tuesday ``I'm very hopeful that this resolution could pass now in the council'' despite the opposition.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the current Security Council president, told reporters Tuesday after a closed council discussion of a revised text of the resolution that ``our decision of the sponsors ... is to go for a vote tomorrow.''
``There are still some differences of view but I believe there are now sufficient votes in the council to move forward,'' he said.
In order to be adopted, the resolution needs at least nine ``yes'' votes in the 15-member council and no veto by a permanent member - the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France. Council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said they don't expect a veto, but they do expect at least five abstentions - Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa.
| I bet Russia vetoes. A beer of your choice at the O-Club. Any takers? |