BREAKING NEWS

France plans UN resolution targeting Syrian barrel bombs

PARIS - France's foreign minister said on Tuesday his country was working on a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at stopping Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces from using barrel bombs against his population.
The resolution has little chance of clearing the Security Council, where Assad's staunch ally Russia has often blocked efforts to condemn him and his government, but could be seen as an alternative to a Russian resolution currently being circulated at the world body.
Western diplomats have said a resolution demanding an end to barrel bombing - something that France has previously been spearheading with Spain - would be helpful as it would emphasize the Syrian government's continued use of such weapons, in clear violation of international law.