ATTEMPTS to derail the Syria peace talks through the United Nations continued yesterday, despite Russia and China vetoing a security council resolution.

The two non-Nato permanent members of the council rejected a motion by France and Britain on Tuesday to block the sale of helicopters to Syria and sanction individuals and companies over alleged chemical weapon attacks by government forces.

The motion was tabled in response to a report by the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) that blamed Damascus for three chlorine gas attacks.