A Security Council debate on protecting civilians reopened diplomatic wounds over the NATO airstrikes in Libya as well as the failure to agree to a stance on President Bashar Assad's deadly crackdown in Syria.
France's UN envoy Gerard Araud said the 15-member body had "abdicated its responsibilities" when China and Russia blocked a resolution condemning the violence in Syria. The UN says more than 3,500 people have now been killed there.
"Some vetoed even limited action by the Security Council. Others chose abstention, that is indifference," Araud told the meeting.
"It is a serious failure of the Security Council, in humanitarian or political terms."
Russia and China used their right of veto as permanent members to veto the October 4 resolution. Brazil, India, South Africa and Lebanon abstained.
The Security Council debate came as Syrian protesters pelted a group of rival opposition leaders with eggs outside Arab League headquarters in Cairo, accusing them of playing along with Assad's government instead of working to overthrow the regime.
The attack highlights the growing fault lines in the Syrian opposition, which is struggling to overcome infighting in the face of a brutal government crackdown that has persisted even after Damascus agreed last week to an Arab League plan to stop the violence. Security forces killed at least 13 protesters nationwide Wednesday, activists said.
