Germany's Merkel criticizes Russia and China over Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized Russia and China over their stance in the Syrian crisis, saying in an interview their action weakened the United Nations. Merkel, in an interview to daily Augsburger Allgemeine published on Saturday, said: "It is very regrettable that Russia and China have refused for some time to come to a common position (with Western partners) on the Syrian conflict. This considerably weakens the role of the United Nations." Russia and China are against a current push by the Security Council, the United States, Britain and France, for a resolution that would allow military action against Syria over a chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime.