UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1: Russia has rejected the latest UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria which threatens imposition of sanctions against Syria government of Bashar al-Assad if it does not comply with the council’s demands.

The four European members of the UN Security Council — Britain, France, Germany and Portugal — are hoping to put the draft resolution to a vote expecting Russia, a permanent member, would go along. They had full support of the United States.

During the closed consultations held in the council Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said he was “disappointed” with the provisions of the draft resolution in which, according to him, the proposals made by Russia were not taken into account.

China has also threatened to use its veto power, as a permanent member of the council, against any UN resolution against Syria that calls for “punitive measures”.

India’s UN envoy Hardeep Singh Puri reportedly said that any resolution must include a reference to violence by “extremist elements”, a agency report said.