Russia and China have vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have imposed non-military sanctions on Syria, and the United States is vowing to work outside the council to pressure President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The vetoed resolution would have extended, for 45 days, the peace mission of U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan, which includes a 300 member monitoring mission. Council members are considering a vote on resolution for a 30-day rollover.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. (Susan Rice) says the Security Council had “utterly failed” on Syria, and that the U.S. will now work with partners outside of the council to confront the Assad regime.

The decision comes as fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces continued in the capital, a day after a bombing killed the country's defense minister and two other officials during a high-level meeting.