Clinton lambasts China, Russia for impeding Syria sanctions

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushed for world powers at a Friends of Syria meeting to ensure that Russia and China “pay a price” for impeding efforts to replace Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime, Reuters reported. Clinton repeated the US call for a Security Council resolution under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which would permit economic sanctions against Syria. China’s foreign ministry responded Saturday by rebuffing the accusations and saying attempts to “slander” China would fail. Russia and China have previously vetoed Security Council resolutions designed to pressure Assad, who is seeking to crush a rebellion against his family’s 42-year rule. The countries say they support the peace plan drafted by UN envoy Kofi Annan. However, UN peace monitors in Syria effectively gave up last month after it became clear there was no peace to monitor.