Several dozens of Syrian protesters stormed the Russian embassy in Libyan capital of Tripoli on Sunday, a day after Russia and China had blocked the UN resolution on Syrian crisis, RIA Novosti reported.
According to the witnesses, several dozens of protesters, condemning Russian and Chinese decisions to block the UN resolution against Syria, climbed onto the roof of the embassy and damaged a Russian flag.
“It was not the first protest near the embassy, but the previous ones were of a peaceful character,” a witness of the protest told RIA Novosti, adding that “this time people were very aggressive.”
No one, including Russian diplomats, was injured in the attack, Foreign Ministry said.
“Libyan authorities have expressed their apologies and assured us that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and that the security will be provided to our diplomatic mission in Tripoli,” Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Veto-wielding UN Security Council members Russia and China on Saturday blocked the Morocco-proposed draft resolution on Syria that called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Thirteen of the council’s 15 members voted in favor of the draft, backed by the Arab League and the West.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said on Saturday she was "disgusted" by the Russian and Chinese veto on the draft, and that “all further bloodshed” that could follow will be on the two countries’ conscience.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the veto, calling it “a great disappointment to the people of Syria and the Middle East, and to all supporters of democracy and human rights.”
At least 5,400 people have lost their lives in the Syrian government's crackdown on protesters since March last year, according to UN estimates. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs affiliated with al-Qaeda and say more than 2,000 soldiers and police have been killed.
