The UN Security Council failed to agree on a draft statement condemning Syria's deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters. The 15-member council was deeply divided over the wording in the draft.
There was a breakdown in discussions, with the respective envoys using strong language to make their case or oppose the move.
Russian envoy Alexander Pankin said "a real threat could arise from outside interference or taking of sides", adding that such a move could lead to civil war in Syria.
Lebanese envoy Nawaf Salam said the "hearts and minds" of the Lebanese were with the Syrians.
US envoy Susan Rice accused Syria of "casting blame on outsiders" instead of responding to legitimate calls for reforms from Syrians, adding that Iran was backing the Syrian government's crackdown using "the same brutal tactics" it did against its own people.
UN political chief B. Lynn Pascoe made the case for the statement by saying reports by the "media, international human rights groups, UN agencies and diplomatic missions confirm that the overwhelming majority of protests have been peaceful and unarmed".
Syrian envoy Bashar Ja'afari welcomed the council's inaction and questioned the "unprecedented enthusiasm" by some members pushing for the statement. He added:
Some of the statements we heard today can only be considered an encouragement to extremism and terrorism.
French envoy Gerard Araud dismissed Ja'afari's allegation, saying:
Every dictatorship facing opposition usually says there is foreign involvement. So it's not new.