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If the Western-backed draft resolution is vetoed, Russia could then put its rival text
-- which makes no mention of sanctions or Chapter 7 -- to a vote. But diplomats said Moscow doesn't have the minimum nine "yes" votes required for Security Council approval, so that appears unlikely. If neither the Western nor the Russian texts are approved, the council would then have until Friday to decide whether to extend the observer mission. Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks have been private, said a simple resolution extending it for perhaps 30 days is the most likely scenario. The unarmed observers were authorized for 90 days to monitor a cease-fire and implementation of Annan's six-point peace plan. The U.S. and its European allies contend that with violence escalating dramatically and the failure to implement Annan's plan, there must be consequences for non-compliance. Diplomats have been scrambling to try to get council to unify, which would send a much stronger signal to Syria. According to the White House, Putin and Obama agreed that the growing violence in Syria shows the need for a political transition as soon as possible
-- a key demand of the Annan plan. But the Kremlin said they didn't agree on the measures that need to be taken. Moscow's rival proposal calls for the "immediate implementation" of Annan's plan and guidelines for a political transition approved at a meeting in Geneva last month, but makes no mention of sanctions.
[Associated
Press;
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