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After months of inaction on Syria because of the opposition of veto-wielding members Russia and China, the United Nations Security Council is poised to approve a draft statement backing a new peacemaking effort to end the violence.

The draft expresses 鈥渇ull support鈥� for special envoy Kofi Annan鈥檚 peacemaking efforts and by the UN if it doesn鈥檛 meet UN demands 鈥渋n a timely manner,鈥� Reuters reports. Mr. Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, is acting as envoy for both the UN and the Arab League.

The Security Council members spent Tuesday negotiating the text of the draft, easing the demands on the Syrian government to secure Russia鈥檚 approval. A previous version that threatened further UN action if Damascus did not comply within seven days was rejected by Russia as an ultimatum, according to Reuters.

If no one on the council raises further objections before 9 a.m. EST today, , Voice of America reports. China has , reports Xinhua. The draft includes a call for a cease-fire, dialogue between the government and opposition, and total access for humanitarian work.

Russia has steadfastly stood between the UN and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime since the uprising began a year ago, vetoing along with China two previous resolutions. If Moscow goes along with this draft statement, it will be a 鈥渄iplomatic blow鈥� to Russia's ally Assad, according to Reuters.

Yesterday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a pre-recorded interview for Russian radio station Kommersant FM that the Assad regime . "We believe that the Syrian leadership responded incorrectly to the very first manifestations of the peaceful protests. The Syrian leadership 鈥� despite the numerous promises it has made in response to our calls 鈥� is making a lot of mistakes. Unfortunately this is why the conflict is so acute," Mr. Lavrov said, according to RTT, which characterized his remarks as representing a "distinct shift" in Russia's position.

Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition has faced several setbacks in the last month, with government troops wresting control of the cities of Homs and Idlib, two rebel strongholds. Yesterday, the Free Syrian Army, an armed wing of the opposition, amid a government assault, Bloomberg reports.

The Associated Press reports that and is struggling to pose a challenge to the regime鈥檚 professional army. Illicit arms supply lines are drying up because of both rising gun prices and increased security at borders and the weapons they do have 鈥� mostly light ones, such as Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades 鈥� are no match for the regime鈥檚 tanks and more substantial weapons.

The opposition says it will be unable to stop Assad鈥檚 forces from crushing the uprising unless it gets more outside military aid; Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Libya all express support for the move, but no country has publicly said it is supplying them with arms. The US and much of Europe have rejected the idea of sending weapons, fearing it will 鈥渇uel a civil war,鈥� according to AP. In the meantime, rebels are getting much of their supplies by looting government troops鈥� weapon caches.

In a letter made public yesterday, Human Rights Watch accused the opposition of citing evidence of kidnappings, torture, and executions, CNN reports.

"The Syrian government's brutal tactics cannot justify abuses by armed opposition groups," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Opposition leaders should make it clear to their followers that they must not torture, kidnap or execute under any circumstances."

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Free Syrian Army Lt. Riad Ahmed said a "few incidents are a drop in a bucket in comparison to what the regime is committing."

Speaking in Indonesia, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that world leaders , but that the events have 鈥減otentially massive repercussions for the region and the world,鈥� The New York Times reports.

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