UNITED NATIONS – Syria (search) is considering amending its resolution that seeks U.N. condemnation for Israeli air strikes on its soil after many countries, including the United States, called for more balance.
The United States renewed its warning that it might block any draft that did not condemn the homicide bombing in Haifa (search).
Many countries, including Russia appeared to give some support to the U.S. position on Monday, saying Damascus' proposed resolution condemning Israel should be reworked.
"We believe it would benefit from a more balanced form," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "In particular, we think it should include a clause on the need to stop terrorist attacks in the region."
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad (search) on Monday indicated his country may amend its resolution.
"We have to take into consideration the wish by member countries to look into some of the ideas they are raising," he said.
Mekdad said he would wait for further instructions from Damascus.
The attack on Sunday was the first Israeli strike deep within Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The Arab League said the bombing "exposes the deteriorating situation in the region to uncontrollable consequences, which could drag the whole region into violent whirlpool."
At an emergency meeting called at Syria's request Sunday, most council diplomats spoke out against both the airstrike and the homicide bombing in the Israeli port city of Haifa that killed 19 people and prompted Israel's retaliation.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Monday he still found the Syrian draft "deficient in many respects."
Negroponte, who is also the Security Council president for October, indicated that he would decide on a further meeting or vote on the resolution once Syria comes back with a new draft.
Mekdad said that could happen as early as Tuesday.
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