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Syria crisis: William Hague to hold talks with John Kerry Syria crisis: UK 'closely aligned' with US says Hague
(about 5 hours later)
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to hold talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the Syrian crisis. William Hague has said UK and US policy on Syria is "closely aligned" despite the UK ruling out involvement in any military intervention.
Mr Kerry arrived in London on Sunday after meeting Arab League foreign ministers in Paris, as the US tries to gather support for military strikes. The UK foreign secretary said the two were working together to save lives, revive peace talks and press for a strong response to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government.
Parliament has already decided that the UK will not join the US in any military action in response to Syria's suspected use of chemical weapons. US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US and UK remained "true friends".
But Mr Hague has reiterated his support for Washington's stance. Their meeting comes as the US tries to gather support for military strikes.
"I do believe very strongly the world must stand up to the use of chemical weapons and there is a debate now taking place in the US Congress and since our Parliament has spoken," Mr Hague told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Parliament's vote last month means the UK will not join the US in any military action in response to Syria's suspected use of chemical weapons.
"The risks of not doing so in my view are greater than the risks of doing so in a limited, proportionate and careful way." Special relationship
Mr Kerry, meanwhile, has warned that if there was no armed intervention Syria would use its chemical weapons again. After talks with Mr Kerry in London, Mr Hague said the UK's position was clear but that the government remained "highly active" on the diplomatic and humanitarian front and supportive of Washington's position.
He said 11 countries had signed a declaration following last week's G20 summit condemning the use of chemical weapons and calling for a robust response and urged other nations to follow suit to help increase pressure on the Syrian authorities.
Mr Kerry said the two countries' "special relationship" would not be affected by the UK's decision to reject military involvement, saying the bonds between the countries were "bigger than one vote or one moment in history".
Quoting the late Baroness Thatcher, he said the US and UK were "real, true friends" and the transatlantic relationship was "as relevant as it has been in the past".
He dismissed suggestions that US President Obama had been forced to consult Congress after the UK Parliament rejected the case for a military response, suggesting he was intending to this all the time and there was "no misinterpretation" of the British vote.
He also said he understood why the legacy of Iraq made many MPs nervous about getting involved in another conflict.
But he insisted that the evidence of the Assad government's guilty was compelling and the "limited" action the US was contemplating was very different than in 2003.
"We are not talking about war. We are not going to war. We will not have people at risk in that way."
'Red line''Red line'
The US secretary of state has warned that if there was no armed intervention Syria would use its chemical weapons again. But he also said the civil war in Syria could only be resolved by a political process.
The US accuses President Bashar al-Assad's forces of killing 1,429 people in a sarin gas attack in Damascus on 21 August. Mr Assad's government blames the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow him in the country's two-and-a-half-year civil war.The US accuses President Bashar al-Assad's forces of killing 1,429 people in a sarin gas attack in Damascus on 21 August. Mr Assad's government blames the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow him in the country's two-and-a-half-year civil war.
On Sunday, Mr Kerry said that he and Arab League foreign ministers had agreed that the Syrian president's suspected use of chemical weapons "crossed an international global red line".On Sunday, Mr Kerry said that he and Arab League foreign ministers had agreed that the Syrian president's suspected use of chemical weapons "crossed an international global red line".
"What we are seeking is to enforce the standard with respect to the use of chemical weapons," he said."What we are seeking is to enforce the standard with respect to the use of chemical weapons," he said.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said pictures of Mr Hague shoulder to shoulder with Mr Kerry could prove awkward for the Obama administration.BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said pictures of Mr Hague shoulder to shoulder with Mr Kerry could prove awkward for the Obama administration.
"It will be a vivid reminder to the American people that Britain's foreign secretary represents an ally - and a government - defeated by its Parliament over Syria, which hardly helps Mr Kerry's president as he appeals to lawmakers in Congress not to follow that path," said our correspondent."It will be a vivid reminder to the American people that Britain's foreign secretary represents an ally - and a government - defeated by its Parliament over Syria, which hardly helps Mr Kerry's president as he appeals to lawmakers in Congress not to follow that path," said our correspondent.
He said the talks may focus on ways to boost elements of the Syrian Opposition seen as moderates.He said the talks may focus on ways to boost elements of the Syrian Opposition seen as moderates.
Retaliation warningRetaliation warning
Meanwhile, Mr Assad has reportedly again denied any link to the attack.Meanwhile, Mr Assad has reportedly again denied any link to the attack.
In an interview with the US broadcaster PBS, to be broadcast on Monday, he also reportedly "suggested that there would be, among people that are aligned with him, some kind of retaliation if a strike was made", PBS said.In an interview with the US broadcaster PBS, to be broadcast on Monday, he also reportedly "suggested that there would be, among people that are aligned with him, some kind of retaliation if a strike was made", PBS said.
France supports military intervention but it wants to wait for a report by UN weapons experts before taking action.France supports military intervention but it wants to wait for a report by UN weapons experts before taking action.
Both Russia and China, which have refused to agree to a UN Security Council resolution against Syria, insist any military action without the UN would be illegal.Both Russia and China, which have refused to agree to a UN Security Council resolution against Syria, insist any military action without the UN would be illegal.
Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make a statement to MPs later on last week's G20 summit, where the Syria crisis was discussed by global leaders.Prime Minister David Cameron is due to make a statement to MPs later on last week's G20 summit, where the Syria crisis was discussed by global leaders.
Meanwhile, the Stop the War Coalition is planning a protest outside the Foreign Office and US Embassy. The Stop the War Coalition was planning protests outside the Foreign Office and US Embassy to coincide with the secretary of state's visit.