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Syrian government behind 'massive chemical attack' Syrian government behind 'massive chemical attack'
(about 2 hours later)
France says the suspected chemical attack near Damascus last month "could not have been ordered and carried out by anyone but the Syrian government".France says the suspected chemical attack near Damascus last month "could not have been ordered and carried out by anyone but the Syrian government".
A report presented to parliament by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the assault on 21 August involved the "massive use of chemical agents". A report presented to parliament by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says the assault on 21 August involved the "massive use of chemical agents".
It concluded that at least 281 deaths could be attributed to the attack. It concludes that at least 281 deaths can be attributed to the attack.
France and the US are pushing for punitive military action, which the UK parliament rejected last week.France and the US are pushing for punitive military action, which the UK parliament rejected last week.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has again denied being behind the attack. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has again denied carrying out a chemical attack, telling the French newspaper Le Figaro it would have been "illogical".
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, he said it would have been "illogical". He also warned that foreign military action could ignite the "powder keg" of the wider region.
He also warned that foreign military action could ignite a wider regional conflict.
"Everyone will lose control of the situation when the powder keg explodes. Chaos and extremism will spread", he said.
Mr Assad also warned France that there would be "repercussions" from any involvement in Syria.
Vote pressureVote pressure
The alleged chemical attack took place in the Ghouta, an agricultural belt around the capital on 21 August. The US put the death toll at 1,429, including 426 children. The alleged chemical attack took place in the Ghouta, an agricultural belt around the capital, Damascus.
The US administration has already presented its case that the Assad regime was behind the attack. On Monday Mr Ayrault presented France's own intelligence dossier to parliamentary leaders. The US put the death toll at 1,429, including 426 children and has blamed the Syrian government, based on its intelligence.
The nine-page report drawn up by France's military and foreign intelligence services states: "Analysis of the information we have today leads us to conclude that, on 21 August 2013, the Syrian regime launched an attack on certain districts on the outskirts of Damascus held by opposition units that combined conventional means and massive use of chemical agents." On Monday Mr Ayrault made public France's nine-page report into the incident, drawn up by military and foreign intelligence services.
French MPs are due to debate the issue in an extraordinary session of parliament on Wednesday. It says Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons is "massive and diverse" , comprising "several hundred tonnes" of the nerve agent sarin and "dozens of tons" of the most toxic known agent, VX.
However, Mr Ayrault has ruled out a vote, as happened in the UK and is scheduled to take place in the US after 9 September. The Syrian army had already used chemical weapons, including sarin, against the population several times, says the report, but on 21 August it launched an attack which involved "massive use of chemical agents".
President Francois Hollande is constitutionally able to order an attack without parliamentary approval. The use of chemical weapons can only be authorised by President Assad or "certain influential members of his clan", says the report, while opposition forces lack the capacity to carry out such a large-scale chemical attack.
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. After his meeting with MPs, Mr Ayrault told reporters: "France is determined to penalise the use of chemical weapons by Assad's regime and to dissuade with a forceful and firm response."
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", and that he was confident Congress would give its approval for strikes, "because they understand the stakes". He said France would not act alone and that President Francois Hollande was "continuing his work of persuasion to bring together a coalition".
However some lawmakers have expressed doubts about President Barack Obama's plan for a "limited, narrow" military operation, questioning its purpose and effectiveness. President Hollande is constitutionally able to order an attack without parliamentary approval.
By putting off an attack and seeking congressional approval, President Obama has taken the biggest gamble of his presidency, says the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell. French MPs are due to debate the issue in an extraordinary session of parliament on Wednesday. However, Mr Ayrault has ruled out a vote.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he is personally convinced that a chemical attack took place and that the Assad government was responsible. UK MPs voted last week against taking part in military action.
There must be "a firm international response" to deter any future use of such weapons, he said, or else it would send a "dangerous signal to dictators all over the world". The US Congress will vote after it reconvenes 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.
Senator John McCain, a long-time advocate of arming the Syrian rebels, said he believed it would take time to convince the American public of the need to intervene.
But he warned it would be "catastrophic" if Congress were to go against President Obama and vote against intervention.
Mr Obama has often said that using them would cross a "red line" that would prompt US intervention.
"It would undermine the credibility of the United States of America and the president of the United States. None of us want that," he said.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Monday he was personally convinced that a chemical attack took place and that the Assad government was responsible.
But he added that he did not envisage any further role for Nato, saying he would expect any military response to be "a very short, measured, targeted operation" and that the alliance's resources would not be needed.But he added that he did not envisage any further role for Nato, saying he would expect any military response to be "a very short, measured, targeted operation" and that the alliance's resources would not be needed.
'Support for Islamists'
Meanwhile fighting has continued across Syria, in a conflict which has already left an estimated 100,000 people dead since 2011.Meanwhile fighting has continued across Syria, in a conflict which has already left an estimated 100,000 people dead since 2011.
On Monday, activists said 20 rebel fighters were killed in an army ambush in Adra, north-east of Damascus, AFP news agency reports.
In other developments:In other developments:
On Sunday, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal 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.
President Obama was "determined to launch an attack", he said, and the US Congress would base any decision on attacking Syria on whether it was in the interests of Israel.
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.
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