Russia, China veto UN resolution demanding Aleppo truce

Russia and China have vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that called for a seven days ceasefire in Syria's embattled city of Aleppo. Russia said the document infringed the council rule allowing countries 24 hours to consider the final wording. The US dismissed this as a made-up alibi, saying Russia wanted to preserve recent military gains by Syrian government troops in Aleppo. 

The army are reported to have seized more parts



of rebel-held east Aleppo. More than 100,000 people may be under siege in districts still under rebel control, where food supplies are exhausted and there are no functioning hospitals.

Yesterday, Russia and China, both veto-wielding council members, voted against the draft submitted jointly by Egypt, New Zealand and Spain. Venezuela also voted No, while Angola abstained. The other 11 UN Security Council members backed the resolution.