U.S. Blocks U.N. Statement Backing Syria Ceasefire

The United States blocked adoption of a U.N. Security Council statement Friday that supported a Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, diplomats said following a closed-door meeting.

"It's premature," the United States said, rejecting the joint statement which Russia's ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, had asked the other 14 member states to adopt, according to diplomats.