UNITED NATIONS - Russia and China, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, on Tuesday vetoed a draft resolution, which meant to strongly condemn "the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities" and threatened punitive measures against the Middle East country.  

The draft resolution, presented by France, Germany, Portugal and Britain, won nine votes in favor, two against and four abstentions.  

Russia and China have the veto power on the 15-nation Security Council.

South Africa, India, Brazil and Lebanon, the four non-permanent members of the Security Council, abstained.

Syria has been wracked by six months of unrest which it blames on foreign conspiracy and armed thugs. A recent UN statement put the number of civilians killed during the past six months in Syria at 2,600, while Syria blames on foreign-backed armed gangs who it says have killed 700 security forces personnel.