U.N. General Assembly member states vote on a resolution condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces and offering support for the opposition Syrian National Council.

(UPSOT RESOLUTION PASSED)

Passing with 107 votes in favour, the text has no legal force, but carries some political and moral weight.

But a decline in support for the Gulf Arab-drafted resolution suggested growing uneasiness about Syria's fractious rebels.

Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari told the assembly ahead of the vote that the resolution violated international law and went against the U.S.-Russia push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, now in its third year.

But U.S. Deputy U.N. ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo defended the resolution.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. ROSEMARY DICARLO, SAYING:

"Adopting this resolution will send a clear message that the political solution we all seek is the best way to end the suffering of the people of