The symbolic UN General Assembly resolution, which expressed"grave concern" at the escalating violence in Syria, got 133 votes infavour in the 193-member body yesterday.
India abstained from voting after the Saudi-drafted textreferred to calls for President Bashar Al Assad to step down and asked UNstates to severe diplomatic relations with the troubled nation.
The resolution, which is not legally binding and is of amoral nature, also demanded that the country lockdown its chemical andbiological weapons.
In his explanation of vote on the resolution, India'sPermanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri said theresolution makes specific reference to the July 22 resolution of the League ofArab States which "openly called for President Assad to step down frompower and for other UN members to severe diplomatic relations and contacts withSyria."
He said while India does not hold any brief for anyparticular Syrian leader, it could not welcome the League's resolution.
"It is unfortunate that this element of the present resolutionwas not removed, and hence we have abstained from the resolution," Purisaid.
The resolution also deplored "the failure of theSecurity Council to agree on measures to ensure the compliance of Syrianauthorities with its decisions".
