The United States still wanted a political solution on Syria and would continue to press for the oust of its embattled President Bashar al-Assad, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday.

"We believe that the right solution in Syria is a political solution," Carney told reporters. "There remains an opportunity for that to be achieved, for that transition to democracy to take place."

He vowed that the United States would continue to work with its international partners, using diplomatic, economic and other means to bring about a political transition in Syria, although he added that "we take no options off the table."

"We're going to work with all the friends of Syria and the Syrian people to continue to pressure the Assad regime, to continue to make clear that Assad's days are numbered," said Carney.

On Saturday, an Arab-European draft UN resolution backing an Arab League plan to promote a regime change in Syria was vetoed by Russia and China, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council.

It was the second time since October 2011 that Russia and China, the two veto-wielding council members, used double veto to block a UN Security Council resolution on Syria, which they deemed not the best choice to promote peace in the Middle East country.

Russia and China used the double veto on the ground that more consultations were needed to achieve a proper settlement of the Syrian issue.

They argued that the co-sponsors, including Arab states and the United States, Britain and France, failed to take into account the reasonable concerns of Russia, which insisted that the draft resolution, tabled by Morocco, be amended.