A wounded Syrian child lies at a makeshift clinic following Syrian government bombardments in Kafr Batna, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on Feb. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP)
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council will vote at 11:00 a.m. local time (1600 GMT) Friday on a draft resolution calling for a 30-day truce in Syria, diplomatic sources said Thursday night.
The resolution, drafted by Kuwait and Sweden, demands "a cessation of hostilities throughout Syria for all military operations except those directed at the Islamic State ... al Qaeda and al Nusra Front" for 30 days to allow aid deliveries and evacuations of the critically sick and wounded in besieged areas.
Smoke and dust are seen following a reported regime air strike in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on Feb. 21, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP)
The Security Council met Thursday afternoon to discuss the situation in Syria's besieged eastern Ghouta, but failed to reach an agreement on the draft as members were divided over the text.
People inspect missile remains in the besieged town of Douma, in eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria, Feb. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
Swedish UN Ambassador Olof Skoog said on Thursday that he hoped the Council could vote on the resolution, while Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he proposed to amend the text for "it to be realistic."
An UN resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by China, Russia, the United States, Britain or France.
