China on Monday denied US accusations it was protecting the Syrian regime, after drawing international criticism for vetoing a UN resolution condemning a deadly crackdown on protests by Damascus.

Beijing called on both sides in the conflict to halt violence, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused China and Russia of "protecting the brutal regime in Damascus", calling their veto of the resolution a "travesty".

"China does not accept the accusations" of the United States on the Syrian veto, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters.

"China does not have its own selfish interest on the issue of Syria. We don't shelter anyone, nor do we intentionally oppose anyone. We uphold justice and take a responsible attitude."

Thirteen countries voted for the UN Security Council resolution Saturday, which aimed to give strong backing to the Arab League's plan to end the crackdown in Syria, where opposition groups say at least 6,000 people have been killed.

The Russian and Chinese vetoes came hours after the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) reported a "massacre" in the central flashpoint city of Homs with more than 230 civilians killed during an overnight assault by regime forces.

The rare double veto drew international condemnation, with Syria's opposition saying Beijing and Moscow had handed President Bashar al-Assad's regime a "licence to kill".

But Liu said China -- which has a consistent policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs -- had decided to veto the resolution because of the strong divisions within the Security Council on the issue.

The People's Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, added passing the resolution would have led to a "new disaster" in Syria.

"The current situation in Syria is extremely complex," the newspaper said in a signed commentary.

"Simply supporting one side and pressuring the other seems like a way to help bring a turn for the better, but actually it is planting the roots of a new disaster."

However, some Chinese bloggers condemned Beijing's decision to veto the latest resolution.

"The Syrian people are being slaughtered. But China cast an opposing vote in the Security Council," said ArshavinThe23, who is based in the central Chinese province of Hunan, on his weibo -- Chinese microblogs similar to Twitter.

"I just want to say, dictator supported dictator," added Qiao Baibai on the popular Sina microblog service.

Another state media outlet, the nationalistic Global Times, said Monday the veto showed that China was displaying a new confidence in international affairs.

"Abstaining is no longer always a choice as China is forced to speak out. China needs to speak out," the English-language edition of the newspaper said.

"The veto may have its consequences, but the Chinese people are willing to face it together."

Western powers have vowed to seek new ways to punish Damascus after the double veto -- the second by China and Russia on Syria.

Clinton said the United States would "work to seek regional and national sanctions against Syria and strengthen the ones we have", while France said that Europe would also strengthen sanctions against Damascus.

A top Chinese diplomat said over the weekend that other nations had failed to take account of "reasonable" revision proposals suggested by Russia.

Moscow has also defended its UN veto, saying Western powers had refused to reach a consensus.

"The authors of the draft Syria resolution, unfortunately, did not want to undertake an extra effort and come to a consensus," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on Twitter.

Outrage as Russia, China veto UN move on Syria
Damascus (AFP) Feb 6, 2012 - Western powers vowed to seek new ways to punish Damascus amid growing outrage after Russia and China blocked a UN resolution condemning Syria for its deadly crackdown on protests.

The vetoes wielded by Beijing and Moscow at the UN Security Council on Saturday handed President Bashar al-Assad's regime a "licence to kill" according to the opposition.

The rare double veto also drew international condemnation, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling it a "travesty" and vowing to push for new sanctions on Syria.

"Those countries that refused to support the Arab League plan bear full responsibility for protecting the brutal regime in Damascus," a forceful Clinton told a news conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Sofia.

Faced with a "neutered Security Council" she promised to redouble efforts outside of the UN.

"We will work to seek regional and national sanctions against Syria and strengthen the ones we have," Clinton added,

Echoing Washington's sentiments, France said Europe would strengthen sanctions against Damascus.

"Europe will again harden sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime. We will try to increase this international pressure," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.

He also said France would "help the Syrian opposition to structure and organise itself."

Russia defended its UN veto, saying Western powers had refused to reach a consensus.

"The authors of the draft Syria resolution, unfortunately, did not want to undertake an extra effort and come to a consensus," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on Twitter.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Intelligence Service chief Mikhail Fradkov are preparing to visit Damascus on Tuesday, amid reports that the mission could try to push Assad to quit.

"Russia strongly intends to achieve a rapid stabilisation of the situation in Syria through the rapid implementation of much-needed democratic reforms," the Russian foreign ministry said.

Meanwhile US Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said Sunday the United States could take covert action to help oust Assad, without using US troops.

Gingrich, who is struggling to keep up with frontrunner Mitt Romney in the Republican race, told the CBS programme "Face the Nation" that Washington should act to help remove the Syrian leader blamed for a deadly crackdown on opponents.

"I think there are a lot of things we could do covertly in terms of supplying weapons, supplying -- helping people in the region supply advisers," the former House speaker said.

The Russian and Chinese vetoes came hours after the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) reported a "massacre" overnight Friday in the central flashpoint city of Homs with more than 230 civilians killed during an assault by regime forces.

On Sunday, activists reported more shelling in the city, with at least 56 civilians and 28 regular army troops killed the day after 48 people were reported dead.

Army deserters destroyed a military control post in the northeast village of Al Bara, killing three officers and capturing 19 soldiers, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday.

The weekend death toll was one of the bloodiest since the uprising against Assad's regime erupted almost 11 months ago.

Opposition groups say at least 6,000 people have now been killed.

The second UN double veto in four months also fuelled fears among Syrian activists of a new surge of violence that would once again target Homs.

"The SNC holds Russia and China accountable for the escalation of killings and genocide, and considers this irresponsible step a licence for the Syrian regime to kill," it said in a statement.

In Libya, crowds of Syrians chanting anti-Russian slogans entered Moscow's Tripoli embassy and replaced the Russian flag with the new Syrian flag while hundreds protested outside the Russian embassy in Beirut.

And Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse protesters seeking to storm the Syrian consulate in Istanbul.

Iran, however, welcomed the veto on the resolution condemning its ally Syria and accused the Security Council of attempting to interfere in the country's internal affairs

Assad's troops shelled Homs overnight Friday, killing at least 260 civilians, the SNC said, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said about 100 women and children were among its toll of 237 dead.

The tolls could not be independently confirmed. Damascus denied responsibility, blaming the deaths on rebels seeking to swing the UN vote.

The UN resolution -- approved by 13 of the 15-member Security Council -- was proposed by European and Arab nations to give strong backing to an Arab League plan to end the crackdown.

On Sunday, League chief Nabil al-Arabi said the bloc would press on with mediation efforts to find a political solution and avoid foreign intervention in Syria.

Syrian government mouthpiece Tishrin called the veto "a catalyst" and said it would help accelerate reforms in the country.

Tunisia urged other Arab nations to follow its lead after it said on Saturday it was expelling Syria's ambassador and withdrawing its recognition of the Assad government.