China and Russia veto UN resolution condemning Syria
The European-drafted resolution had been watered down to try to avoid the vetoes, dropping a direct reference to sanctions against Damascus.
But Moscow and Beijing said the draft contained no provision against outside military intervention in Syria.
The US envoy to the UN said Washington was “outraged” by the vote.
The result is a huge blow to European and US efforts on the Syria issue, the BBC’s Laura Trevelyan in New York says.
More than 2,700 people have been killed across Syria since the crackdown began in March, the UN estimates.
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says it is in the process of introducing reforms and is speaking to members of the opposition. It blames the unrest on armed gangs.