China has urged Syria to speed up promised reforms, a week after joining Russia in vetoing a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Syria for its crackdown on civilian protesters.

The comments Tuesday from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman follow a call last week by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad needs to enact reforms or resign.

Both countries vetoed the draft resolution written by France, Britain, Germany and Portugal, sparking U.S. and European outrage. Without mentioning them by name, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Russia and China would have to explain their vetoes “to the Syrian people.”

Meanwhile, Syria's top Sunni Muslim cleric warned Western countries Monday against military intervention, threatening to retaliate with suicide bombings in the United States and Europe if his country comes under attack.

Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun gave a speech and told the U.S. and Europe that “we will prepare suicide bombers who are already in your countries if you bomb Syria or Lebanon.”

Hassoun's comments follow another warning by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, who threatened “tough measures” against any country that recognizes the newly formed opposition Syrian National Council.

In Paris Monday, the European Union welcomed the creation of the council, calling it a “positive step forward.”

The United Nations human rights office says more than 2,900 people have died in Syria's anti-government unrest, which is now in its seventh month.