U.N. Syria aid vote likely Friday, Russia or China support unclear

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (front, 11th L), U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (behind Ban) and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (front, 10th L) pose with other leaders for a group photo during the opening session of the Syrian Donors Conference at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait City January 15, 2014. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council will likely vote on a draft resolution to boost humanitarian aid access in war-torn Syria on Friday, diplomats said, but it was unclear if Russia and China would support or veto the Western- and Arab-backed text.

Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg finalised the draft on Wednesday, which includes demands for cross-border aid access, an end to shelling and aerial bombardment - including barrel bombs - and threatens "further steps" in the event of non-compliance.