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Divided G20 discusses Syria crisis in St Petersburg Divided G20 discusses Syria crisis in St Petersburg
(about 1 hour later)
World leaders are locked in a divisive debate over Syria, at the end of the first day of the G20 summit in Russia.World leaders are locked in a divisive debate over Syria, at the end of the first day of the G20 summit in Russia.
Opening the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Syria would be discussed at the working dinner, despite not being on the agenda.Opening the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Syria would be discussed at the working dinner, despite not being on the agenda.
US President Barack Obama has already talked to Japan's leader about Syria, and is pushing for support for military strikes against the Damascus regime.US President Barack Obama has already talked to Japan's leader about Syria, and is pushing for support for military strikes against the Damascus regime.
Russia and China have warned the US not to take action without UN backing.Russia and China have warned the US not to take action without UN backing.
In his opening remarks Mr Putin told the leaders, gathered in St Petersburg, that some participants had asked for time to discuss "very acute topics of international politics, in particular the situation around Syria".In his opening remarks Mr Putin told the leaders, gathered in St Petersburg, that some participants had asked for time to discuss "very acute topics of international politics, in particular the situation around Syria".
"I suggest we do this during dinner so that we... in the first part can discuss the [economic] problems we had gathered here for.""I suggest we do this during dinner so that we... in the first part can discuss the [economic] problems we had gathered here for."
On the sidelines, Mr Putin's spokesman once again dismissed evidence provided by the US that the Syrian government had used poison gas on its own people. The BBC's Bridget Kendall in St Petersburg says, in the short-term, the leaders can only hope that their discussion over Syria at dinner does not descend into an even more bitter row than it is already.
"We can't accept proof that is a long way from being convincing," said Dmitry Peskov. Gorbachev plea
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is accused of using chemical weapons against civilians on several occasions during the 30-month conflict.The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is accused of using chemical weapons against civilians on several occasions during the 30-month conflict.
The US said the most recent attack took place on 21 August on the outskirts of Damascus and had killed 1,429 people. It released an intelligence assessment blaming the Syrian government.The US said the most recent attack took place on 21 August on the outskirts of Damascus and had killed 1,429 people. It released an intelligence assessment blaming the Syrian government.
German and US media reports published further analysis on Thursday both claiming that the gas used in the attack was more potent than expected, and that Syrian forces may have got the mix wrong.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has told the BBC British scientists have uncovered further evidence linking the Damascus attack to the use of chemical weapons.
Mr Assad's government has denied involvement and said the rebels were responsible.Mr Assad's government has denied involvement and said the rebels were responsible.
Some 100,000 people have died in the conflict, and more than two million Syrians are classified as refugees, according to the UN.Some 100,000 people have died in the conflict, and more than two million Syrians are classified as refugees, according to the UN.
On the G20 sidelines, Mr Putin's spokesman once again dismissed the US intelligence assessment on the Damascus attack.
"We can't accept proof that is a long way from being convincing," said Dmitry Peskov.
Mr Obama, who is trying to build support in the US for military action against the Syrian government, held informal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the issue.Mr Obama, who is trying to build support in the US for military action against the Syrian government, held informal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the issue.
Mr Obama said Japan and the US had a "joint recognition" that the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a tragedy and a violation of international law.Mr Obama said Japan and the US had a "joint recognition" that the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a tragedy and a violation of international law.
Mr Abe has not stated publicly whether he supports military strikes.Mr Abe has not stated publicly whether he supports military strikes.
In the run-up to the summit, the US and Russia have engaged in tit-for-tat insults.In the run-up to the summit, the US and Russia have engaged in tit-for-tat insults.
US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of "obstructionism", and Mr Putin responded by calling Mr Kerry a "liar".US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of "obstructionism", and Mr Putin responded by calling Mr Kerry a "liar".
On Thursday, the US envoy to the UN continued the tough rhetoric, accusing Russia of holding the UN Security Council hostage.
Samantha Power said that Russia, which has twice blocked resolutions on Syria, had ensured that there was "no viable path" for action through the Security Council.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told the BBC's Newsnight programme in an interview to be broadcast later on Thursday that Mr Obama and Mr Putin must meet.Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told the BBC's Newsnight programme in an interview to be broadcast later on Thursday that Mr Obama and Mr Putin must meet.
"They must strike up a conversation that will lead to the improvement of relations and stop the things which are happening now," he said."They must strike up a conversation that will lead to the improvement of relations and stop the things which are happening now," he said.
In other developments:In other developments:
On Thursday the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said one of its surgeons, a Syrian working in Aleppo province, had been killed.On Thursday the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said one of its surgeons, a Syrian working in Aleppo province, had been killed.
It gave no details of the circumstances but called for humanitarian workers to be protected.It gave no details of the circumstances but called for humanitarian workers to be protected.
Separately, Syrian rebels have launched an assault on the religiously mixed village of Maaloula, in western Syria, held by government forces.Separately, Syrian rebels have launched an assault on the religiously mixed village of Maaloula, in western Syria, held by government forces.
A Christian nun in Maaloula told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels had seized a mountain-top hotel and were shelling the community below.A Christian nun in Maaloula told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels had seized a mountain-top hotel and were shelling the community below.
Battle for middle ground
A new study of images apparently from the 21 August chemical attack concludes that the rockets carrying the gas held up to 50 times more nerve agent than previously estimated, the New York Times reported.
The study was carried out by an expert in warhead design, Richard Lloyd, and Theodore Postol, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The German intelligence service, the BND, told German MPs in a confidential briefing on Wednesday that Syrian forces might have misjudged the mix of gases in the attack, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported.
This might explain why the death toll was much higher than in previous suspected attacks, the head of the BND was quoted as saying.
The BBC's Bridget Kendall, in St Petersburg, says both Mr Putin and Mr Obama have allies but the battle will be for the middle ground - those countries who share concern about chemical weapons but fear the consequences of military retaliation.
France has strongly backed the US plan for military action. The French parliament debated the issue on Wednesday, although no vote was held.France has strongly backed the US plan for military action. The French parliament debated the issue on Wednesday, although no vote was held.
On Wednesday, a US Senate panel approved the use of military force in Syria for 60 days with the possibility to extend it for 30 days.On Wednesday, a US Senate panel approved the use of military force in Syria for 60 days with the possibility to extend it for 30 days.
The measure now goes to a full Senate vote next week and must also be approved by the US House of Representatives.The measure now goes to a full Senate vote next week and must also be approved by the US House of Representatives.