UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has delayed a vote on a new Syria resolution in the wake of a blast in Damascus that killed at least three members of the defence leadership. International envoy Kofi Annan reportedly asked the Security Council to delay the vote, which had been scheduled for Wednesday.

The blast is likely to have an impact on the council’s deliberations on imposing sanctions. The US and its allies want to impose UN sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad for refusing to implement Annan’s peace plan.

Moscow has used its veto twice to block a resolution seeking to punish Assad. But the proposal is now in jeopardy as Syria’s opposition forces pound Assad's security forces. Russia and China are opposed to imposition of any sanctions which has become a more difficult task now.