[An Nahar] European and Arab nations want a U.N. Security Council vote next week on a resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on protests and hinting at sanctions, diplomats said Tuesday.Britannia, La Belle France, Germany and Arab nations are working on the resolution which could face Russian opposition because of a call on all states to follow Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
sanctions against Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir
Pencilneckal-Assad
Leveler of Latakia...
Russia and China vetoed a previous European attempt in October to get a resolution passed condemning Assad for the violence in which the U.N. says more than 5,400 people have been killed.
The western allies hope to build on growing Arab League demands for U.N. action on the Syria crisis, however. The United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
has received a letter from Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi seeking a meeting with U.N. leader the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
, a U.N. front man said.
Diplomats from several Security Council and Arab nations said there could a vote as early as Monday or Tuesday next week on a resolution. "I would not exclude it," said one western diplomat. "It is what we are aiming for," an envoy from an Arab nation told Agence La Belle France Presse.