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| French MPs to see 'evidence' of Syria chemical weapons | French MPs to see 'evidence' of Syria chemical weapons |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault will present France's evidence that chemical weapons were used in Syria, when he meets parliamentary leaders on Monday. | French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault will present France's evidence that chemical weapons were used in Syria, when he meets parliamentary leaders on Monday. |
| The dossier is said to show that Syria has stockpiled more than 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents, including sarin. | The dossier is said to show that Syria has stockpiled more than 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents, including sarin. |
| French President Francois Hollande, like US President Barack Obama, wants punitive military action against Syria. | French President Francois Hollande, like US President Barack Obama, wants punitive military action against Syria. |
| But there is growing pressure for a parliamentary vote on the issue, to be in line with the US and also Britain. | But there is growing pressure for a parliamentary vote on the issue, to be in line with the US and also Britain. |
| The alleged chemical attack took place on 21 August in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. The US says more than 1,400 people were killed, including 426 children. | The alleged chemical attack took place on 21 August in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. The US says more than 1,400 people were killed, including 426 children. |
| Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he is personally convinced that a chemical attack took place and that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad was responsible. | |
| There must be "a firm international response to deter any future use of such weapons", he said at a news briefing in Brussels. | |
| "It would send, I would say, a dangerous signal to dictators all over the world if we stand idly by and don't react." | |
| Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has told the BBC that any such military action would amount to "support for al-Qaeda and its affiliates". | |
| French dossier | French dossier |
| The US administration has already presented its case that the Assad regime was behind the attack, and now Mr Ayrault will present France's own intelligence dossier to lawmakers. | |
| "We are going to give the MPs everything we have - classified until now - to enable every one of them to take on board the reality of the unacceptable attack," he said on Monday. | |
| French MPs are due to debate the issue on Wednesday. | French MPs are due to debate the issue on Wednesday. |
| US lawmakers are due to reconvene next week, and White House officials have said that when it comes to a vote, they believe there will be enough support for the president. | US lawmakers are due to reconvene next week, and White House officials have said that when it comes to a vote, they believe there will be enough support for the president. |
| Campaigning to convince people that military intervention is the right way forward has already begun in America, correspondents say. | Campaigning to convince people that military intervention is the right way forward has already begun in America, correspondents say. |
| By putting off an attack and seeking congressional approval, President Obama has taken the biggest gamble of his presidency, the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says. | By putting off an attack and seeking congressional approval, President Obama has taken the biggest gamble of his presidency, the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says. |
| He adds that it would be disastrous for the president if Congress does not back him, and his decision to call for a vote would look foolish. | He adds that it would be disastrous for the president if Congress does not back him, and his decision to call for a vote would look foolish. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'Hatred for Americans' | 'Hatred for Americans' |
| Foreign Minister Mekdad told the BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus that any attack against Syria would be "support for al-Qaeda and its affiliates, whether Jabat al-Nusra or the State of Islam in Syria and Iraq". | |
| Jabat al-Nusra and other groups linked to al-Qaeda have come to play a significant anti-Assad role in the conflict. | |
| Mr Mekdad - considered to be highly influential within the Assad' government - also warned that possible US intervention would deepen "hatred for the Americans" and destabilise the whole Middle East. | |
| He said Mr Obama's surprise decision to seek congressional approval for strikes showed that he had not thought through all the consequences. | |
| But he added: "This did not change anything, since he [President Obama] is determined to launch an attack". | But he added: "This did not change anything, since he [President Obama] is determined to launch an attack". |
| As for a vote in Congress, Mr Mekdad said the US Congress would base its decision on whether attacking Syria was in the interests of Israel. | |
| 'Case is building' | 'Case is building' |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday samples from hair and blood gathered after the 21 August attack had "tested positive for signatures of sarin". | |
| He implied that the US evidence was supplied by its own sources, rather than via the UN inspectors. | |
| The US has previously said it had similar evidence of sarin use in other attacks. | The US has previously said it had similar evidence of sarin use in other attacks. |
| Mr Kerry also said he was confident Congress would give its approval for the US to launch strikes, saying members "will do what is right because they understand the stakes". | |
| He declined to say whether Mr Obama would press ahead even if Congress voted against him. | |
| However, some lawmakers have expressed doubts about Mr Obama's plan for a "limited, narrow" operation. | However, some lawmakers have expressed doubts about Mr Obama's plan for a "limited, narrow" operation. |
| "It is not clear to me that we know what the results of this attack will be, meaning, will it be effective?" said Jim Himes, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives. | |
| Syria is known to have extensive supplies of chemical weapons. | Syria is known to have extensive supplies of chemical weapons. |
| Mr Obama has often said that using them would cross a "red line", prompting US intervention. | Mr Obama has often said that using them would cross a "red line", prompting US intervention. |
| Damascus has been fighting rebel forces since March 2011. | Damascus has been fighting rebel forces since March 2011. |
| More than 100,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict, and at least 1.7 million have become refugees. | More than 100,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict, and at least 1.7 million have become refugees. |
| Forces which could be used against Syria: | Forces which could be used against Syria: |
| • Five US destroyers - USS Gravely, USS Ramage, USS Barry, USS Mahan and USS Stout - are in the eastern Mediterranean, equipped with cruise missiles. The missiles can also be fired from submarines, but the US Navy does not reveal their locations | • Five US destroyers - USS Gravely, USS Ramage, USS Barry, USS Mahan and USS Stout - are in the eastern Mediterranean, equipped with cruise missiles. The missiles can also be fired from submarines, but the US Navy does not reveal their locations |
| • Airbases at Incirlik and Izmir in Turkey, and in Jordan, could be used to carry out strikes | • Airbases at Incirlik and Izmir in Turkey, and in Jordan, could be used to carry out strikes |
| • Two aircraft carriers - USS Nimitz and USS Harry S Truman are in the wider region | • Two aircraft carriers - USS Nimitz and USS Harry S Truman are in the wider region |
| • French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is currently in Toulon in the western Mediterranean | • French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is currently in Toulon in the western Mediterranean |
| • French Rafale and Mirage aircraft can also operate from Al-Dhahra airbase in the UAE | • French Rafale and Mirage aircraft can also operate from Al-Dhahra airbase in the UAE |