Security Council Censure of Raid Vetoed by U.S., Britain, France

A Security Council resolution condemning last week’s U.S. raid against Libya was jointly vetoed Monday by the United States, Britain and France.

Before being vetoed, the resolution won nine votes from Communist and nonaligned nations in the 15-member body. Australia and Denmark voted against the resolution, and Venezuela abstained.

The resolution condemned “the armed attack by the United States of America in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international conduct.” It also called on the United States to “refrain forthwith from any attacks or threats thereof.”

The resolution did not mention Libya by name but contained an article condemning “all terrorist activities whether perpetrated by individuals, groups or states.”

In an angry rejection speech, U.S. Ambassador Vernon A. Walters said he was “outraged by the fact that nowhere in this resolution do we find any mention of the brutal campaign of terror waged by Libya.”

“How many American citizens and innocents must be killed before our right to respond is recognized?” Walters asked.

Voting for the resolution were Bulgaria, China, the Congo Republic, Ghana, Madagascar, the Soviet Union, Thailand (which had been expected to abstain), Trinidad and Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. Nine council votes are required to pass a resolution.