'Are you siding with Syria, Russia & China?'

"Russia and China snubbed U.N. Security Council talks on Saturday convened to discuss a draft resolution that would condemn Syria's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, U.N. diplomats said.
"Russia and China didn't think it necessary to show up," a council diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "It's a pretty clear message," another diplomat said... Diplomats said the latest meeting produced no changes among the 13 Security Council members that attended. Currently, nine members, including the draft's sponsors, Britain, France, Germany and Portugal, plan to vote for it.The United States is not sponsoring the resolution but has made clear it supports the text and condemns the violence against the demonstrators...
Russia and China dislike the idea of any council discussion of Syria and have suggested they might use their veto power to kill the resolution. Lebanon, India, Brazil and South Africa have also said they have problems with the text...
Envoys said the latest draft, submitted to the council on Wednesday by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal, could be put to a vote next week.Western envoys said they were especially frustrated with the positions of Brazil, India and South Africa, which are considering abstaining from the vote."We're trying to explain to them that abstaining on this issue means siding with Russia and China -- and Syria," one diplomat said..."