US Says There is "No Path Forward" on Syria Through UN Security Council Because of Russia

Veto would block any resolution

(Reuters)—The United States declared on Thursday that there is "no viable path forward" in the U.N. Security Council on Syria because Russia is holding it hostage in an effort to protect the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power's remarks appeared to leave no doubt that Washington would not seek U.N. approval for a military strike on Syria in response to an August 21 chemical weapon attack near Damascus. She said a draft resolution Britain submitted to the five permanent council members last week calling for a response to that attack was effectively dead.