France's Hollande warns against veto of Syria UN resolution`

PARIS: France’s President Francois Hollande warned on Saturday against a veto of a French-drafted UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to air raids on Syria’s Aleppo, which Russia is expected to block.

“A country that vetoes this resolution would be discredited in the eyes of the world. It would be responsible for continuing abuses,” Hollande said.

Russia is expected to use its veto to block the French-drafted measure that is backed by the United States and Britain that also provides for a halt to all military flights over Aleppo.

The council, which votes Saturday, will then move to a second vote on the Russian-drafted text that calls for a ceasefire but makes no specific mention of stopping the aerial bombardment of Aleppo.

The Russian text, obtained by AFP on Friday, “urges immediate implementation of the cessation of hostilities, in particular in Aleppo” and demands that all parties allow deliveries of humanitarian aid.

At least 250,000 people are living under siege in rebel-held east Aleppo, and face almost-daily heavy bombing since the Russian-backed Syrian army launched an offensive to retake the city last month.