Rebuked

U.N. Condemns Syria

General Assembly has overwhelming vote.

The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution to back a plan that calls for the resignation of Syria's president and denounces human rights offenses in the country. 137 member nations voted for the resolution, with 12 against and 17 abstaining. Russia and China, the two countries that voted against a UN action in the Security Council, also voted against the resolution. The vote came just hours after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave a harsh criticism of Syria, accusing its government of atrocities. A day after the Syrian president promised reform, his troops launched an attack on the cities of Daraa and Hama, killing an estimated 18 people. Also on Thursday, Syrian forces reportedly arrested blogger Razan Ghazzawi, who is considered one of the icons of the uprising.