Rival draft resolutions by the US and Russia to set up a new expert body to probe chemical weapons attacks in Syria have both failed to pass at the United Nations Security Council.
The votes on Tuesday came amid an escalating war of words between Washington and Moscow and a looming threat of Western military action following a suspected gas attack on the Syrian rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday.
Russia first vetoed a US-drafted text to create a mechanism that would have the authority to assign blame for chemical attacks in the war-torn country.
Twelve council members voted in favour, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting against, and China abstained.
In order to pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members: Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States.
Al Jazeera reported that this was the 12th time that Russia has used its veto power at the Security Council to block action against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a major ally.
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