UN Security Council divided over Syria

 UN Security Council has been unable to decide its next step in Syria as the future of UN observers who have been forced to suspend their mission there due to growing violence.Diplomatic sources say international envoy Kofi Annan addressed a closed meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday using a videoconferencing system.

Annan reported that the situation in Syria has worsened. He urged council members to speak in a united voice on the matter.United States and France want to impose sanctions on Syria, but they face opposition from Russia.

US Ambassador Susan Rice told reporters after the meeting that UN mediation efforts would not work unless the Security Council puts intense pressure on the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Alexander Pankin described sanctions on the Assad government as unilateral and discriminatory. He insisted instead on diplomatic efforts to end the violence.