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| Syria: UN inspectors' vehicle hit by sniper fire | Syria: UN inspectors' vehicle hit by sniper fire |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A vehicle belonging to a team of UN inspectors investigating the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons has been "deliberately shot at multiple times" by unidentified snipers in Damascus. | A vehicle belonging to a team of UN inspectors investigating the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons has been "deliberately shot at multiple times" by unidentified snipers in Damascus. |
| A spokesman for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said the shooting occurred in the buffer zone area between rebel and government-controlled territory. | |
| After replacing the vehicle, the team returned to the site in the suburbs of Damascus where an alleged chemical weapon attack occurred last week, reportedly killing hundreds. They met and took samples from victims of the apparent poisoning. | |
| The attack on the inspectors came shortly after Ban said there could be "no impunity" for the use of chemical weapons, saying the international community owed it to the families of the victims to take action in Syria. | |
| Speaking in Seoul, Ban said the UN inspection could not be delayed. "Every hour counts," he said. "We cannot afford any more delays. We have all seen the horrifying images on our television screens and through social media. Clearly this was a major and terrible incident," he said. "We owe it to the families of the victims to act." | |
| Britain and the US are inching towards a military attack against the regime of Bashar al-Assad after the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, said all other options have failed over the past year. | Britain and the US are inching towards a military attack against the regime of Bashar al-Assad after the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, said all other options have failed over the past year. |
| David Cameron is cutting short his holiday in Cornwall to deal with the crisis. The prime minister, who has held a series of telephone conversations with world leaders from Cornwall, will be back at work in Downing Street by Tuesday and will chair a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday. | David Cameron is cutting short his holiday in Cornwall to deal with the crisis. The prime minister, who has held a series of telephone conversations with world leaders from Cornwall, will be back at work in Downing Street by Tuesday and will chair a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday. |
| Ban faces mounting challenges maintaining the credibility and authority of the UN over the Syria conflict, as Russia appears determined to withhold support for any punitive measures against the Assad regime, while the UK and US have both signalled that they are prepared to act without a UN mandate in the face of a Russian and Chinese veto. | Ban faces mounting challenges maintaining the credibility and authority of the UN over the Syria conflict, as Russia appears determined to withhold support for any punitive measures against the Assad regime, while the UK and US have both signalled that they are prepared to act without a UN mandate in the face of a Russian and Chinese veto. |
| However, Ban was outspoken over the necessity to act if his inspectors find evidence of chemical weapons use. "If proven, any use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances is a serious violation of international law and an outrageous crime. We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity," Ban said. | However, Ban was outspoken over the necessity to act if his inspectors find evidence of chemical weapons use. "If proven, any use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances is a serious violation of international law and an outrageous crime. We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity," Ban said. |
| Under the terms of its mandate negotiated in the security council, the UN inspection team under Swedish scientist, Ake Sellstrom, can determine whether chemical agents have been used, not who has used them. | Under the terms of its mandate negotiated in the security council, the UN inspection team under Swedish scientist, Ake Sellstrom, can determine whether chemical agents have been used, not who has used them. |
| Hague, who insisted Britain shared a common position with the US and France, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have tried those other methods – the diplomatic methods – and we will continue to try those. But they have failed so far." | Hague, who insisted Britain shared a common position with the US and France, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have tried those other methods – the diplomatic methods – and we will continue to try those. But they have failed so far." |
| The foreign secretary admitted that Britain effectively faced a stark choice – between inaction or a military strike – as UN weapons inspectors embarked on a visit to the area east of Damascus that was struck by a chemical weapons attack last week. | The foreign secretary admitted that Britain effectively faced a stark choice – between inaction or a military strike – as UN weapons inspectors embarked on a visit to the area east of Damascus that was struck by a chemical weapons attack last week. |
| General Sir Nick Houghton, the chief of the defence staff, is to discuss military options with his US counterpart, General Martin Dempsey, and other allied military chiefs at a summit in the Jordanian capital Amman. | General Sir Nick Houghton, the chief of the defence staff, is to discuss military options with his US counterpart, General Martin Dempsey, and other allied military chiefs at a summit in the Jordanian capital Amman. |
| Russia and China are likely to veto any UN security council resolution authorising military action. But Hague said a military strike could still be legal under international law without the approval of the UN. | Russia and China are likely to veto any UN security council resolution authorising military action. But Hague said a military strike could still be legal under international law without the approval of the UN. |
| He told Today: "It is possible to take action based on great humanitarian need and humanitarian distress. It is possible to do that under many different scenarios. But anything we propose to do – the strong response we have talked about, whatever form that takes – will be subject to legal advice, must be in accordance international law." | He told Today: "It is possible to take action based on great humanitarian need and humanitarian distress. It is possible to do that under many different scenarios. But anything we propose to do – the strong response we have talked about, whatever form that takes – will be subject to legal advice, must be in accordance international law." |
| The foreign secretary indicated that Britain's patience was wearing thin after all other forms of pressure on Syria had failed over the past year. | The foreign secretary indicated that Britain's patience was wearing thin after all other forms of pressure on Syria had failed over the past year. |
| He said: "Of course we want the maximum pressure from world opinion, from diplomatic work, on the Syrian regime not to do these things again. It has to be pointed out that such pressure does not appear to have worked." | He said: "Of course we want the maximum pressure from world opinion, from diplomatic work, on the Syrian regime not to do these things again. It has to be pointed out that such pressure does not appear to have worked." |
| Hague dismissed Assad's claims that his regime was not responsible for the chemicals weapons attack. He said: "The Assad regime did this. The use of chemical weapons in the 21st century, on a large scale like this, cannot go unaddressed, cannot be ignored. Our position is the same as France and the US." | Hague dismissed Assad's claims that his regime was not responsible for the chemicals weapons attack. He said: "The Assad regime did this. The use of chemical weapons in the 21st century, on a large scale like this, cannot go unaddressed, cannot be ignored. Our position is the same as France and the US." |
| Hague's comments came after Assad denied using chemical weapons. He told the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia: "Would any state use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction in a place where its own forces are concentrated? That would go against elementary logic." | Hague's comments came after Assad denied using chemical weapons. He told the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia: "Would any state use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction in a place where its own forces are concentrated? That would go against elementary logic." |
| Assad added that military action would fail. In remarks reported by Reuters in Moscow, he said: "Failure awaits the United States as in all previous wars it has unleashed, starting with Vietnam and up to the present day". | Assad added that military action would fail. In remarks reported by Reuters in Moscow, he said: "Failure awaits the United States as in all previous wars it has unleashed, starting with Vietnam and up to the present day". |
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