Western nations circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday calling for sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, influential family members and key associates aimed at stopping the government's continued crackdown on dissent.

U.S. and European delegations at the council hope to put the draft resolution to a vote as soon as possible. But Russia, which has veto-power, said it does not think sanctioning Damascus is the right approach at the moment. Moscow's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said now is not the time to slap the punitive measures on the Syrian government.

In addition to Mr. Assad, the draft resolution calls for an asset freeze against 22 key Syrian figures including the president's brother Maher, commander of the army's 4th armored division, which is said to have played a key role in suppressing protests.

The proposed sanctions are in response to Damascus' five-month crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, which the United Nations says has left 2,200 civilians dead.

Mr. Assad's cousin Rami Makhlouf, a tycoon who controls Syria's biggest cellphone firm and other lucrative businesses, is also on the sanctions list. He has been the target of protesters' rage.

The resolution would impose sanctions on Syria's General Intelligence Directorate and other companies it says provide funding for the government. The proposed measures include an enhanced arms embargo and a travel ban on 21 individuals, but not Mr. Assad or his younger brother.

Earlier Tuesday, opponents of Mr. Assad formed a “national council” they say will coordinate efforts to oust the embattled leader. Activists meeting in Turkey announced the group's formation but they provided few details on the group's make-up.

Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador Robert Ford has made a surprise visit to the Syrian town of Jassem, where security forces have carried out several deadly crackdowns on dissent. Ford traveled to the town in the Dara'a region on Tuesday.

The visit comes a month after Ford and French ambassador Eric Chevallier angered Syrian officials by visiting the flashpoint city of Hama. The move prompted the Syrian government to impose travel restrictions on the two envoys.

The Associated Press says Ford received permission from Syria to make Tuesday's trip.

In a separate development, the U.N. Human Rights Council approved a resolution that calls for an investigation into possible rights violations committed by Syrian security forces. The council's action comes one day after rights groups said Syrian forces killed eight people as hundreds of protesters rallied against President Assad.

The United States, the European Union and other Western powers have said that Mr. Assad must step down. The Syrian leader has defended his crackdown by describing the opposition as armed gangs and terrorists. He also said criticism from Western countries means nothing to him.