29/08/2013

MPs To Debate Possible Military Response Against Syria

Legal advice taken by the British government has stated that Britain could launch military action against Syria, without the backing of the United Nations, and even if permanent members Russia and China block the move.

It is understood that UK intelligence chiefs have concluded that it is "highly likely" a chemical attack was carried out by the Syrian government, and this allows for a response on the basis of "humanitarian intervention".

The government in Syria has denied it carried out a suspected chemical weapons attack on August 21 near Damascus in which hundreds of people died.

The accuracy of the available evidence for the attack and who carried it out, is to be debated by MPs later today, with the Labour party's Ed Miliband cautaining that MPs should not have to decide on what he called an "artificial timetable".

(MH/JP)

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