US, Russia set to clash over Syria sanctions

Russia and the United States headed for a clash at the UN Security Council yesterday as Moscow prepared to veto a draft resolution that would impose sanctions on Syria.

The council will vote on the text drafted by the United States, Britain and France that would punish 11 Syrians and 10 entities linked to chemical attacks in 2014 and 2015.

Russia has vowed to use its veto to block the measure, which would be the seventh time that Moscow has resorted to its veto power to shield its Damascus ally. The vote would mark the first major council action by the new US administration of President Donald Trump, who is seeking warmer ties with Russia. It would see the Trump administration joining old allies France and Britain to confront Russia over its support for Syria.

"How much longer is Russia going to continue to babysit and make excuses for the Syrian regime?" US Ambassador Nikki Haley said on Friday following a closed-door council meeting to discuss chemical weapons use in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday said Moscow opposed any new sanctions against the Syrian leadership as they would undermine peace efforts to end the country's protracted war.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday Ankara wanted to work with its allies to capture the Islamic State bastion of Raqa in Syria, but without the involvement of Syrian Kurdish militia.

But he made clear Turkey would not fight alongside Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are viewed by Ankara as "terrorists".