Russia and China hit back at US criticism on Syria

China has hit back at comments made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on its veto on Syria. The foreign ministry in Beijing has called the comments "unacceptable" and a Communist Party newspaper described the US critique as "super arrogant".

Meanwhile Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin slammed the West as being "cynical". On Friday Mrs Clinton called the veto of a UN resolution by China and Russia on Syria "despicable". On Sunday the Syrian people were voting on a national referendum calling for a multi-party parliamentary election within three months. Putin has accused the West of "lacking the patience to work out an adjusted and balanced" resolution, reports the Daily Lebanon Star. Mrs Clinton's comments came at The Friends Of Syria conference being held in Tunisia. The Syrian government has already condemned the gathering of 60 nations, many of which include Arab countries. The US Secretary of State said it was "quite distressing [to see two Security Council members using their vetoes] while people are being murdered", reports the BBC China News. She added, "It is just despicable and I ask whose side are they on? They are clearly not on the side of the Syrian people." China's foreign ministry called the comments "unacceptable" while the more candid People's Daily said: The United States' motive in parading as a 'protector' of the Arab peoples is not difficult to imagine. The problem is, what moral basis does it have for this patronising and egotistical super-arrogance and self-confidence? Even now, violence continues unabated in Iraq and ordinary people enjoy no security. This alone is enough for us to draw a huge question mark over the sincerity and efficacy of US policy.

The 11-month long repression has left more than 7,600 dead according to human rights groups.