Syria outvoted 90-6-18 at UN General Assembly

A Syrian effort to delete reference to Israel chairing United Nations efforts to fight 'blood diamonds' in 2010 has been defeated 90-6 with 18 abstentions in the UN General Assembly. The United States, Canada and Israel took the lead in bringing about the measure's defeat. The Syrian objection came as the Assembly was poised to adopt a Namibia-sponsored resolution welcoming progress over the past