[An Nahar] The U.N. General Assembly on Monday passed a resolution condemning human rights...which are usually entirely different from personal
liberty...
in Syria where a government crackdown on protests has left more than 5,000 dead, according to U.N. estimates.
The resolution was passed with 133 countries in favor, 11 against, with 43 abstentions. Syria's U.N. ambassador said the resolution was part of a "devilish" plot against his country.
The condemnation was passed as the U.N. Security Council started separate negotiations on a Russian-proposed resolution which would condemn violence by both sides in the conflict.
Western nations say the Russian draft is unbalanced because it compares the opposition violence to that by the government.
Syria on Monday pledged full cooperation with the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
and agreed to allow an observer mission to monitor a deal to end the bloodshed.
Western envoys at the U.N. said the Syrian pledge would be taken into consideration at the talks but expressed doubts that it would be carried out. "It's all about implementation," said Britannia's U.N. ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, ahead of the talks.
In October, Russia and China vetoed a resolution proposed by European nations condemning the regime's crackdown.