Ambassador Rice

The Obama administration is moving, to increase its backing for anti-Assad -rebels.

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U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice issued a statement that made no mention of the United Nations playing a role in resolving the Syria conflict.

"We will continue to work urgently with our partners in the international community - including the over 100 countries in the Friends of the Syrian People - to accelerate the transition, provide support to the opposition, and meet the increasingly grave humanitarian needs of the Syrian people," Rice said.

Council diplomats have said privately the United States and Gulf Arab states have become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks with what they saw as Annan's dogged commitment to diplomacy at a time when they believe all avenues for dialogue with Assad have been exhausted.

France's U.N. envoy, Araud, said the council appeared to be "irreconcilably" deadlocked but that it would be dangerous for countries to go outside the United Nations to resolve the Syria conflict.

But that is already happening. The United States, other Western powers, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are increasing support for the rebels,

U.N. diplomats say, and are reconciling themselves to the view that Syria's civil war will be long and bloody.

Separately, Araud said the U.N. observer mission would likely "disappear" on Aug. 19, the day its recently renewed mandate expires.