Russia has surprised fellow UN Security Council members by proposing a resolution on the Syria crisis.
The resolution condemns the violence by President Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition groups, but proposes no sanctions.
Europe and the United States welcomed the Russian initiative but said the proposed text was not tough enough on the Damascus government.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, however, other countries would try to work with Russia in a bid to pass a first Security Council resolution on the crackdown, which the UN says has left more than 5000 dead.
As a key ally of Syria, Russia has tried to head off Security Council intervention in the crisis.
With China, it vetoed a council resolution proposed by European countries in October condemning Assad's action.
Russia however called emergency talks of the 15-member body on Syria to propose the new resolution which strongly condemns violence by "all parties, including disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities," according to a copy obtained by Agence France-Presse.
It also raises concern over "the illegal supply of weapons to the armed groups in Syria".
DRAFT 'UNBALANCED': ENVOYS
Envoys of other countries called the draft "unbalanced" because it put opposition violence on the same level as the crackdown by government forces, many of whom are starting to defect, according to rights groups.
They also said there should be a total arms embargo and give clear support to Arab League sanctions against Syria.
Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin again rejected any talk of sanctions and even criticised the Arab League measures - though the draft does back Arab League efforts to negotiate a settlement.
"It (sanctions) is a page from somebody else's book and we don't think that this has been a productive, useful move by the Arab League," he said.
"The role of the Security Council should not be to fan the conflict in Syria," Churkin added.
But he acknowledged some of the doubts raised in talks.
"We said that we are looking forward to working with them in order to adopt a text, a resolution of the Security Council, which will really bring about an end to violence and crisis in Syria and help that country proceed on the path of political reforms."
Other officials put up multiple objections but said the Russian document was a basis for talks after months of division over how to handle Syria.
"There are some issues in it that we would not be able to support. There's unfortunately a seeming parity between the government and peaceful protesters," Clinton said in Washington.
"But we are going to study the draft carefully. It will have to be shared with the Arab League, which has taken the lead on the response to what's going on in Syria," Clinton said.
"And hopefully we can work with the Russians who for the first time at least are recognising that this is a matter that needs to go to the Security Council," she said.
France's UN envoy, Gerard Araud, called the Russian move "extraordinary" and said it showed that Russia was feeling the international pressure over its support for Assad.
He said the text "clearly needs many amendments because it is unbalanced. But it is a text on a basis on which we are going to negotiate."
Araud and other envoys also said there could be no comparison between the government and opposition violence.
"We have to really show that the violence has come from the Syrian regime, that it is the Syrian regime which has shot down thousands of demonstrators," Araud said.
"Of course, after eight months of violence now, some demonstrators are shooting back, but we can't simply put them back to back, and say that they are all 'acts of violence'."
Germany's UN ambassador Peter Wittig said the Russian text was an overdue sign that the council is now discussing Syria "in a serious manner" and called the text "insufficient".
He said the text would have to include references to a UN Human Rights Council recommendations for an independent commission of inquiry and give backing to all measures by the Arab League "not just selectively but all the decisions".
REBEL TROOPS KILL 27
Army deserters killed at least 27 troops and security agents on Thursday in the third straight day of regime losses as Human Rights Watch said rebels had mutinied over orders to shoot civilians.
The clashes in Daraa province, where protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime first erupted in mid-March, came as the European parliament called on the embattled leader to step down.
Thursday's fighting broke out at dawn at checkpoints in three separate places in Daraa province, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The clashes came after army defectors killed at least 15 loyalist troops over the past two days to avenge attacks on civilians.
HRW ISSUES DAMNING REPORT
Human Rights Watch issued a damning new report saying that half of the more than 60 rebel soldiers it interviewed said they had mutinied after receiving direct orders to fire on civilians.
HRW also named 74 military and intelligence officers "who allegedly ordered, authorised, or condoned widespread killings, torture and unlawful arrests" in the report titled: "By All Means Necessary."
"Defectors gave us names, ranks and positions of those who gave the orders to shoot and kill," said Anna Neistat, the watchdog's associate director for emergencies.
"Each and every official named in this report, up to the very highest levels of the Syrian government, should answer for their crimes against the Syrian people", Neistat said.
She urged the Security Council to refer the case to the International Criminal Court.
Share
