Adballah Y. Al-Mouallimi, permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN whose country was reported to claim open support to the Syrian opposition, called the adoption of the resolution "a victory" for the Syrian people.

Western powers including the United States and Britain said they were pleased and welcomed the resolution.

Russia expressed its objection to the resolution a day before it was to put into a vote. A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday called the text "one-sided and unbalanced."

"Today's resolution is harmful and contradicts the efforts to help implement Annan's plan and the Geneva agreement of Group of Actions. It undermines the chance for launching a Syrian process for political settlement," Russian envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.

Wang Min, deputy permanent representative of China to the UN whose country also voted against the resolution, said that the Syrian problem can only by resolved fairly, peacefully and properly through political means, and that military means can only lead to more conflicts and bloodshed.

"The future and destiny of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people," he said. "Imposition of pressure on only one party will not help resolve Syrian issue. China is opposed to any action forcing a 'regime change' in Syria, and sanctions can only make the situation more complicated."

In his explanatory speech before the vote, Syrian UN ambassador Bashar Ja'afari accused the resolution of "misleading" and violating UN principles of respecting sovereignty and non- intervention of internal affairs of other states.