A U.N. Security Council plan to end violence in Syria failed to pass Saturday as Russia and China vetoed the resolution, sources said.
The council sought approval of a plan that would respond to the growing violence between the Syrian Government and the Free Syrian Army. It would involve the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an immediate stop to violence against the Syrian people.
Of the 15 Security Council members, only Russia and China opposed the plan. Russian foreign minister Sergey V. Lavrov said the plan's demand of the removal of the Syrian Army is unrealistic.
According to the New York Times, Lavrov also said the plan would be viewed as "taking sides in a civil war."
Supporters of the resolution said they have made compromises that met demands made by Russia and others.
Peter Wittig, the German ambassador to the United Nations, said "the scandal is not to act. The scandal would be failure to act."
U.S. President Barack Obama also called for an end to the violence, saying the international community "must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent brutality," according to CNN.com.
At least 260 civilians were killed in the city of Homs Saturday, with the White House accusing Syria of murdering many women and children.
According to the New York Times, President Obama said President Bashar al-Assad "has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community."
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