US, France hint at bolstering Syrian opposition

           Western and Arab countries responded with outrage Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab plan urging Syrian President Bashar Assad to give up power. The vote came a day after activists say Syrian forces bombarded the city of Homs, killing more than 200 people in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11-month uprising. Human rights organizations reported on Sunday that over 50 people had been killed during the day by Syrian army forces. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France was consulting with Arab and European countries to create a contact group on Syria to find a solution to its crisis. “France is not giving up,” Sarkozy said late Saturday, adding he was in touch with Arab and European partners to create a “Friends of the Syrian People Group” that would marshal international support to implement the Arab League plan. Sarkozy did not give further details on the initiative, but last year he set up a Libya contact group to create a political roadmap backed by international players as part of efforts to oust Muammar Gaddafi. Western powers have ruled out a Libya-style military intervention in Syria. Russia said Saturday’s resolution was biased and would have meant taking sides in a civil war. Syria is Moscow’s rare ally in the Middle East, home to a Russian naval base and a customer for its arms. China’s veto was widely seen as following Russia’s lead. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before Saturday’s vote for what US officials called “vigorous” talks. Lavrov said he would travel to Syria on Tuesday along with Foreign Intelligence Service Director Mikhail Fradkov for talks with Assad. Lavrov revealed nothing about their purpose, but a Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday indicated he and Fradkov would at least press Assad to make compromises.