Amnesty accuses U.N. council of "failed leadership"

LONDON (Reuters) - Rights group Amnesty Internationallambasted the United Nations Security Council on Thursday as "tired, out of step and increasingly unfit for purpose".

In its annual report, Amnesty said the failure of world powers to take stronger action on Syria was evidence that a sclerotic security council was hamstrung by vested interests, and also warned of abuses arising from Europe's economic crisis.

Permanent security council members Russia, a key arms supplier to Syria, and China have shielded Syrian President Bashar al-Assadfrom tough sanctions.

The United Nations says at least 9,000 civilians have been killed in Assad's crackdown on a March 2011 uprising. Amnesty said the security council had failed to fulfill its mandate to take "prompt and effective" action to preserve international peace and security.

Amnesty Secretary General Salil Shetty told Reuters the security council should be reformed so that a veto could not be used to block action in cases of gross human rights violations.

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