West deplores Syria draft UN veto by Russia and China

Paul Wood, and cameraman Fred Scott, were smuggled into Homs

Syria Crisis

Western nations have deplored the vetoing by Russia and China of a UN resolution condemning the crackdown in Syria on anti-government protests.

The US said the veto was "shameful", while Britain said it "lets the Syrian people down". France also condemned the block at the UN Security Council.

Russia and China said the proposed draft was "unbalanced".

The document was rejected just hours after activists accused Syrian troops of killing at least 55 people in Homs.

A BBC correspondent who entered the Syrian city with rebels after the vote says gun and shell fire can be heard there.

'Disgusted'

The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, described the veto on Saturday as "shameful".

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