Western diplomats were hoping Wednesday to push through United Nations sanctions against the Syrian regime, a day after the UN Human Rights Council strongly condemned Damascus for the violent repression of pro-democracy protesters, DPA reported.
A draft document proposing sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad was being circulated among UN Security Council members, according to diplomatic sources in New York.
The paper, presented jointly by the United States and European states, was to be discussed by the UN Security Council on Thursday, diplomats said - adding that veto-wielding members Russia and China had initially reacted with scepticism.
If approved, the Western proposal would lead to the freezing of foreign assets of the Syrian president, his brother Maher and more than 20 members of al-Assad's government.
On top of this, it would restrict international travel for several regime supporters and impose an arms embargo, banning countries from selling or exporting weapons and military equipment to al-Assad's regime.
The international community would also be called upon to inspect transport to Syria and impound any weapons found.
The draft reportedly threatened to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court, for the investigation of possible human rights abuses since the regime began its brutal crackdown mid-March on pro-democracy protesters.
On Tuesday, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council ordered an investigation into alleged human rights violations in Syria, and strongly condemned the regime's violent behaviour towards its own people.
Russia and China, who could both veto the proposed sanctions in the UN Security Council, voted against Tuesday's Human Rights Council resolution.
An estimated 2,200 people have been killed since March, the UN had said, and that 350 of them had died since the onset of the holy month of Ramadan at the start of August.