China and Russia have vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian regime's bloody crackdown on antigovernment protests.

The AFP cited a statement by the opposition Syrian National Council condemning China and Russia's action as giving a "license to kill" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The world's largest Muslim group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, has also expressed "deep regret." The Arab League, which is at the forefront of realizing sanctions on Syria, declared that despite the failed adoption of the U.N. resolution, it will not cease efforts to resolve the Syrian situation.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the vetoes to the resolution will lend more power to the Syrian regime's oppression of protesters. He said the tragedy in the Middle Eastern nation must end and that diplomatic efforts are ongoing.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the veto by Russia and China was a "travesty."