Deputy FM: Russia Opposes Any Syria Resolution Allowing Strikes

Russia opposes any United Nations Security Council resolution that would permit military strikes against the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad, a senior diplomat said Friday.

"Russia opposes any resolution of the U.N. Security Council indicating the probability of the use of force, (or) any resolution that could be used for military action against Syria," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Britain on Thursday attempted to win U.N. backing for military intervention over the Syrian regime's suspected use of chemical weapons, but a meeting of the five permanent Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- ended with no apparent breakthrough.

The United States is still seeking an "international coalition" on Syria, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.