Russia abused its veto power, says British envoy

British ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, has accused Russia of abusing its veto power after Moscow vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that demanded a halt in airstrikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo and called for access for humanitarian aid in the besieged city.

""In the end, no resolution of this Security Council can end this war. The only thing that can end this war is a change of policy in Moscow," the CNN quoted Rycroft as saying after the veto.

The draft text presented by France won 11 votes in favor. Russia and Venezuela voted against the resolution, while China and Angola abstained.

It was the fifth time that Moscow used its veto to block the UN action to end the five-year war in Syria, which has claimed 300,000 lives.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault had urged the Security Council to take immediate action to save Aleppo from being destroyed by Russia-backed Syrian bombing campaign.

Earlier, Russian presented its own draft text that urged for a separation of moderate and extremist forces in Syria but making no mention of a bombing halt in the besieged city of Aleppo.

The draft put forward by Moscow failed to get the support of minimum nine votes. The draft resolution got four yes votes, nine no votes and two abstentions.

It is reported that Russia's introduction of a rival resolution yesterday took Western supporters of the French draft by surprise.

Several diplomats privately called it a brilliant move by Moscow because it will force Western powers to veto as well.