Russia, China review draft resolution at UN on migrants

(ANSA) - New York, May 19 - A draft resolution at the United Nations on seizing and destroying boats used by human-smugglers to try to slow migrant flows was being reviewed by Russia and China, a UN source said Tuesday.
    Those two permanent members of the UN Security Council were said to have major concerns about military actions and could veto such a resolution.
    The draft text speaks of a "mandate for an operation under the umbrella of the European Union" and the UN.
    The operation could include the use of force in order to "inspect, seize, and neutralize boats that are suspected of being used for the smuggling of migrants".
    The controversial measure was approved on Monday by European foreign and defense ministers, who agreed to use their naval forces to stop boats used by human smugglers from North Africa.
    The plan would reportedly see European navies take migrants back to African ports - an apparent breach of the international 'non-refoulement' law - and also destroy the boats that carried them.