Chinese papers back Beijing's actions as defence of non-interference in internal affairs.

BBC: Chinese, Iranian press alone back UN Syria veto

State media quoted the ministry as praising "the firm Russian stance which is based on the UN principles of non-interference in internal affairs or the threat to use force against the safety of any state".

BBC: Syria conflict: US says Assad can have no post-war role

"In the absence of a swift reaction...to stop this blatant interference in football internal affairs, Fifa will have to consider all options", Valcke wrote in a letter to the man it still considers to be the leader of the KFF, Mohammed Hatimy.

BBC: Mohammed Hatimy

China's stance is consistent with its policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

ECONOMIST: Kenya and China

Hun Sen said he was afraid of joining the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) because of what he described as the organization's interference in Cambodia's internal affairs.

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According to our correspondent, Afghan officials view that as tantamount to interference in the country's internal affairs.

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This would recognise that moral imperatives might sometimes override the principle of non-interference in a state's internal affairs.

ECONOMIST: Whichever way the wind blows | The