UN council facing Syria moment of truth

Growing demands for tough UN Security Council action on Syria are putting increasing pressure on Russias diplomatic shield around President Bashar al-Assad.After Assad brushed aside a Tuesday deadline to withdraw troops and guns from cities, the prospects for international pressure will depend on what UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan requests, and how far Syria has strained the patience of Russia, its main ally, diplomats say.Annan is now insisting the Syrian leader make a fundamental change and keep a Thursday zero hour for a complete halt to hostilities. But the United States, France, Britain and Turkey say Assad has already failed and are demanding sanctions-style action.Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, warned that the UN Security Council faces a looming moment of truth on Syria.The logical next step would be to increase pressure through collective action, she said. Frances Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said he wants new measures by the council after Thursday. Britains Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Security Council should refer Assad to the International Criminal Court. Turkey, struggling with a wave of Syrian refugees, has also demanded action.Russia and China vetoed two resolutions on Syria because they hinted at sanctions. They have however signed up to less weighty statements which backed Annans six-point peace plan and his deadlines to Assad.Annan has been praised for the way he has built up international unity behind his efforts. One step off the diplomatic tightrope could unleash new Security Council hostilities on Syria, diplomats said.Rice said Russia and China have a special responsibility to use the influence they have to end the killing of the Assad regime -- more than 9,000 dead according to the UN.For the moment, Annan is off-limits to Russian attacks, said one senior UN envoy. But if he recommends sanctions, the Russians and Chinese could easily turn on him.Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov complained publicly on Tuesday to Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem that the regime should be more decisive in carrying out the Annan plan.But he also said Annan should put more pressure on the Syrian opposition.At best there is uncertainty now about the Russian attitude, said another UN diplomat.Some analysts say Annans plan gave leeway to Assad because he had to weaken it to get Russian agreement.It was clear that the regime would use what wriggle room existed, and the Annan mission built consensus around a conceptual roadmap that provided plenty of it, said Peter Harling, the International Crisis Group think tanks Middle East specialist.Annans plan was a non-starter because it contained no talk of Syrias president stepping aside, said Murhaf Jouejati, a professor at the US National Defense University and a member of the opposition Syrian National Council.Others say however that Annan has skillfully managed his showdown with Assad by keeping the support of Russia and China.