UN Security Council nears deal on Syria resolution

September 27, 2013 | 15:32

(0) user say

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on a US-Russian resolution on destroying Syria's chemical weapons with several top ministers taking part, diplomats said.

UN Security Council members meet at the United Nations headquarters in New York. (AFP/Emmanuel Dunand)

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on a US-Russian resolution on destroying Syria's chemical weapons with several top ministers taking part, diplomats said.

The vote would be held if the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) accepts a linked US-Russian plan to put Syrian weapons under international control earlier Friday.

French diplomats said the vote would be at a "ministerial level."

The foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and United States -- are in New York for the UN General Assembly.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said it was hoped the OPCW executive council would meet in The Hague on Friday to allow for a Security Council vote hours later.

"We are optimistic for an overwhelming vote" on the UN resolution, Power told reporters after the first meeting on the resolution of the full 15-member panel.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional