Arab delegations have dismissed as unacceptable Russian amendments aimed at weakening a draft resolution that backs an Arab plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside, diplomats have said.<br /><br />"The Arabs have rejected them and they're pushing ahead," a senior Western diplomat said about the Russian amendments to the Arab-drafted plan. <br /><br />Several other diplomats confirmed his remarks, saying the Russian proposals, seen as supporting Moscow's key ally in the Middle East, were unacceptable and would have diluted the resolution's message.<br /><br />The UN General Assembly plans to debate a new draft resolution supporting an Arab League plan on Thursday.<br /><br />The Arab League is hoping Russia and China will soften their stance after blocking the first attempt at getting a resolution passed by the Security Council.<br /><br />But as Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports from Moscow, Russia remains cautious.
