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Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jJC1t4jK61C-4c6QdsZ3A7LOsSAQD9CH8SM80
Syrian Move Against Israel Defeated at UN
(AP) Peter James Spielmann - After Israel was chosen last month to oversee global efforts to end the trade in "blood diamonds" that stokes guerrilla wars, Syria asked the UN General Assembly on Friday to delete any mention of Israel's leadership role. The U.S., Canada and Israel challenged the Syrian parliamentary maneuver and the General Assembly voted to defeat the Syrian amendment 90-6, with 18 abstentions. Iran and North Korea joined Syria and some Arab nations in voting against Israel. Syria had objected to a passing reference near the end of the six-page resolution that simply noted that nations involved in the Kimberley Process "selected Israel to chair" their efforts in 2010. Israel is a global trading center for rough diamonds, and was among the founders of the Kimberley Process to cut the trade in "conflict diamonds."