31/08/2013 09:45
US weighs 'limited act' against Syria
President Barack Obama has said the US is considering a "limited narrow act" in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian army, according to BBC.
Mr Obama stressed that no "final decision" had been made, but ruled out putting American "boots on the ground."
Citing a US intelligence assessment, Secretary of State John Kerry accused Syria of using chemical weapons to kill 1,429 people, including 426 children.
Syria said the US claim was "full of lies", blaming rebels for the attack.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier said his country would defend itself against any Western "aggression." French President Francois Hollande has reaffirmed his support for the US stance.
But Russia - a key ally of Syria - has warned that "any unilateral military action bypassing the UN Security Council" would be a "direct violation of international law."
On Saturday morning, UN chemical weapons inspectors investigating the suspected poison-gas attacks left their Damascus hotel in a convoy of vehicles.
They headed to the motorway leading to neighbouring Lebanon, a witness was quoted as saying by Reuters.
It could be two weeks before the inspectors' final report is ready, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told diplomats.