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President appeals to
international community over strikes during Stockholm press conference
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“French prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault
says taking no action over Syria's chemical weapons would send the
wrong message to Iran over's its nuclear…”
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Obama says international crediblity at stake over Syria - live updates
Live• Obama seeks backing for 'difficult' decision on Syria • Cruiser set to arrive in eastern Mediterranean in 10 days • Putin: strikes without UN approval would be 'aggression' • Increasing support in Congress for military action • French assembly debates attack on Syria
US President Barack Obama at a joint press
conference with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. Photograph:
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
French debate
French prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says taking no action over
Syria's chemical weapons would send the wrong message to Iran over's its
nuclear programme.
He was speaking at the opening of today's debate in France's National Assembly.
Reuters quotes Ayrault as saying:
To not act would be to put in danger peace and security in the entire
region. What credibility would our international commitments against
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear
weapons stand for?
What message would this send to other regimes, and I am thinking like
you of Iran and North Korea? The message would be clear: You can
continue.
Note that Ayrault used the same argument about international credibility deployed by Obama.
Our Paris correspondent Angeliqu Chrisafis has more from the debate:
Updated
Obama
Here's a summary of some of the key points and passages from Obama's Stockholm press conference.
• Obama appealed to Russia to change its stance on Syria, but claimed it had so far resisted logic.
Do I hold out hope that Mr. Putin may change his position on some of
these issues? I'm always hopeful, and I will continue to engage him.
• The president revealed how difficult he found decision making on Syria.
The moral thing to do is not to stand by and do nothing. But it is
difficult. This is the part of my job that I find most challenging every
single day. I would much rather spend my time talking about how to make
sure ever three and four year old gets a good education, than I would
spending time thinking about how can I prevent three and four year old
being subjected to chemical weapons and nerve gas.
Frankly as president of the US I can't avoid those questions because
as much as we are criticised, when bad stuff happens around the world
the first question is what is the US going to do about it?
• Syria use of chemical weapons is a test of the credibility of the international community, Obama insisted.
I didn't set a red line, the world did. My credibility is not on the
line. The international community's credibility is on the line. America
and Congress' credibility is on the line, because we give lip service to
the notion that these international norms are important.
• Obama again drew a distinction between Iraq and Syria.
He suggested that the evidence that the Assad regime had used chemical
weapons was more robust than intelligence about Saddam Hussein weapons
of mass destruction.
Updated
Putin
Any hint that Putin may have been wobbling in his support for Assad appear to have been quashed by his latest comments.
He said Congress had no right to approve the use of force against
Syria without a decision from the UN Security Council, and that doing so
would be an "act of aggression".
Putin also accused US Secretary of State John Kerry of lying to
Congress about the militant group al-Qaida's role in the Syrian conflict
when seeking the approval of US legislators for military action against
Syria's government.
Obama suggested that US and Russian relations had "hit a wall" over Syria.
"One of the areas where we have significant differences is on Syria,"
he said. Obama said it was difficult to get Russia to acknowledge
Assad's crimes at the UN security council.
Even if Russia has concerns about elements of the Syrian opposition, a
political transition is still necessary, Obama said. He accused Putin
of resisting that logic.
"Do I hold out hope that Mr Putin will change on some of these issues? I'm always hopeful," Obama said.
Seeking Congressional approval for military intervention had been "brewing in my mind" for some time, Obama said.
The international community has to deal with situations where the UN
security council has become "paralyzed" by divisions even when
international norms have been violated, Obama argued.
Sometimes it is hard to act through the security council, Obama said.
But this does not mean the world can't take difficult decisions. The
alternative is do nothing, he said. Syria is an example where the world
must make difficult decisions, Obama said.
How can the president reconcile being a Nobel peace prize winner and
at the same time plan military action in Syria? he was asked.
Obama insisted that he had promoted diplomacy, but he pointed out that the Assad regime had violated the rules of humanity.
We have the opportunity of taking some action that is meaningful even
if it doesn't solve the entire problem may at least mitigate this
particular problem.
Then the moral thing to do is not to stand by and do nothing. But it
is difficult. This is the part of my job that I find most challenging
every single day. I would much rather spend my time talking about how to
make sure ever three and four year old gets a good education, than I
would spending time thinking about how can I prevent three and four year
old being subjected to chemical weapons and nerve gas.
Frankly as president of the US I can't avoid those questions because
as much as we are criticised, when bad stuff happens around the world
the first question is what is the US going to do about it? That's true
of every issue. It's true in Libya, it's true in Rwanda, it's true in
Sierra Leone it's now true in Syria. It's part of the deal.
Updated
Obama said he was mindful of public opposition in Europe to the
US-led invasion in Iraq based on faulty intelligence about weapons of
mass destruction. He reminded reporters that he opposed the Iraq
invasion.
On Syria he said the accumulation of evidence gives us "high
confidence" that the Assad regime was behind the attacks. "We can send a
strong message in favour of the prohibition against the use of chemical
weapons," Obama said.
The president said he believed Congress would approve action against
Syria. "America recognises that if the international community fails to
maintain norms ... over time the world becomes less safe," he said.
"It is very important that Congress says 'we mean what we say'," he added.
Obama was asked whether Syria was testing his credibility by crossing his red line on chemical weapons.
"I didn't set a red line, the world did," Obama replied. "The
international community's credibility is on the line," he added. "We
have to act because if we don't we are effectively saying 'someone who
is not shamed can continue to act with impunity'."
Obama said the world cannot be silent in the face of Syria's
"barbarism". He said failing to respond to chemicals the attacks would
increase the risk of further assaults.
Obama's press conference in Sweden
Obama has appealed to the international community to come up with an "effective response" to Syria's use of chemical weapons.
Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm with the Swedish prime
minister Frederik Reinfeldt, Obama said: "We want to join with the
international community in an effective response that deters such use in
the future."
He added:
I updated the prime minister on our efforts to secure Congressional
authorisation for taking action. As well as our effort to continue build
international support for holding the Assad regime accountable.
We are going to continue to try to strengthen the capabilities of an
inclusive and representative Syrian opposition. And support the
diplomacy that could bring an end to all the violence and advance a
political tranistion and future in Syria where all people's rights are
upheld.
PMQs
David Cameron and Ed Miliband had an unusually measured exchange in
the Commons over Syria in the first prime ministers questions after the
summer recess.
It got a little more heated when Miliband applauded the Commons for voting against military intervention.
"Last week's vote was not about shirking its global responsibilities it was about preventing a rush to war," he said.
PA picks out some of the other key moments in the session.
Cameron hit back: "Last week the House of Commons voted clearly and I
have said I respect the outcome out of that vote and I won't be
bringing back plans for British participation in military action.
"I agree with you that we must use everything we have in our power -
our diplomatic networks, our influence with other countries, our
membership of all the key bodies, the G8, the G20, the UN, the EU, Nato -
we must use all that influence to bring to bear.
"My only regret of last week is that I don't think it was necessary
to divide the House on a vote that would have led to a vote but he took
the decision that it was."
Cameron said the world still had to take a "very tough response" to
the deadly chemical attack on a Damascus suburb blamed on the regime and
which the US says killed at least 1,400.
That included aiding rebel forces, he said, so that President Assad
was forced to recognise there was "no victory he can win against his own
people".
Downing Street has refused to rule out seeking authorisation to supply weapons to rebels fighting Assad's regime.
"I accept that Britain can't be part and won't be part of any
military action on that front but we must not in any degree give up our
utter revulsion at the chemical weapons attacks that we have seen and we
must press this point in every forum of which we are a member."
The UK would also use its "diplomatic muscle" to press other nations
to contribute more to aid for refugees, he said, after the UN said the
number had passed two million.
Miliband insisted the revulsion at chemical weapons use was "shared on all sides".
Mostly they were talking constructively about the way forward in
Syria, with Ed Miliband pressing for more engagement with Iran and David
Cameron sounding cautious. Cameron was trying to needle Miliband by
repeatedly stressing his "revulsion" at the use of chemical weapons
(implying Miliband does not feel the same - Miliband rejected this
firmly), and he criticised him for dividing the Commons last week. But
these were muted attacks and the overall impression was one of the two
leaders being grown-up and sensible.
Turkey
Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has reiterated that
Turkey would take part in any international coalition against Syria, but
stopped short of saying whether that would include military action.
"We have said that we are ready to take part in any kind of coalition
and we perceive this as a coalition of volunteers," Reuters quoted him
saying.
Erdogan also described Putin's apparent commitment to intervention if
it was proven that Assad had used chemical weapons as "odd", according
to the Turkish news site Today's Zaman.
Updated
Russian naval maneuvers
More on the deployment of a Russian missile cruiser to the eastern
Mediterranean, via Reuters citing a briefing by a military source to the
state news agency Interfax.
The ship, Moskva, will take over operations from a naval unit in the
region that Moscow says is needed to protect national interests. It will
be joined by a destroyer from Russia's Baltic Fleet and a frigate from
the Black Sea Fleet. "The Cruiser Moskva is heading to the Gibraltar
Straits. In approximately 10 days it will enter the east Mediterranean,
where it will take over as the flagship of the naval task force," the
source said. Last week, the Defence Ministry said new warships,
including the Moskva, were being sent to the Mediterranean but described
the movements as routine deployments.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Russia has no intention of getting dragged into any military conflict over Syria.
Earlier this week, Interfax reported that Russia was also sending a
reconnaissance ship to the region but that it would operate separately
from the naval unit.
A swimmer greets the Russian helicopter
cruiser Moskva as it returns from its operation at Georgia's sea border
in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in 2008. Photograph: Stringer
Russia/Reuters/REUTERS
Downing Street has issued a cautious welcome to Vladimir Putin's
apparent commitment to support UN-backed action against Syria if it can
be proved that the Assad regime was behind last month's chemical attack.
PA reports:
Responding to Putin's comments, David Cameron's official spokesman
told a regular Westminster media briefing: "If members of the
international community are willing to play their full part in
shouldering their responsibilities, that would be welcome. We continue
to engage with all G8 and G20 partners."
Asked if Downing Street believes the Russian president's remarks
indicate a greater willingness to contemplate approving action against
Assad by the UN Security Council, the prime minister's spokesman said:
"From the reports I have seen today, we clearly remain in very, very
different places around the responsibility for the chemical weapon
attacks.
"We are in very different places, but we will continue to engage with
all our partners. We have been working with international partners,
including Russia, for some time."
Downing Street sound scepitcal about Putin's remarks as does Jane Kinnimont, Syria specialist at the Chatham House thinktank.
What makes this this footage particularly intriguing is that the
missile they are examining appears to be the unidentified munition that
has been linked before to suspected chemical weapons attacks, not least
by weapons blogger Eliot Higgins on his Brown Moses blog, and also that the inspector's electronic chemical detector is sounding throughout the examination.
According to CBRNE World – a journal for chemical, biological and
nuclear protection professionals – and Dan Kaszeta a CBRN specialist –
the device being used is a Nato standard chemical detector.
The site appears to be one that has not been tampered with. When the
inspection team arrives the door is blocked and they have to push hard
to gain access to a room covered in rubble with a hole in the ceiling
where the rocket has come through.
Although both were careful to point out the risk of a false positive
for bleach – which contains ammonia – or even for nail polish, the
experts explained that the device is usually set to a small menu of
chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, although the
user can “tweak” the settings.
What can be seen is that the inspectors are using the device warning
tone as a guide where to take samples. “They're using the LCD in survey
mode, it seems, to highlight where to collect samples. Their focus seems
to be on collection, not field ID,” tweeted Kazseta, adding than any
attempt to surmise what the tone was warning them about was speculative
and presumptive. “Poor field ID can only muddy the waters.”
Russia sends missile cruiser
Another worrying update from Moscow ...
Russia is sending a missile cruiser to the eastern Mediterranean to
take over Navy operations in the region, Reuters reports citing
Interfax.
The ship was expected to reach the area, where it will join other
ships in Russia's regional naval unit, in approximately ten days,
according to Interfax's unnamed military source.
On Monday Russia dispatched a military reconnaissance ship to the
area, where five US warships are operating in the lead-up to a widely
expected air strike in Syria.
The Priazovye departed for the Syrian coast on Sunday to keep tabs on the situation there.
Updated
Video of UN chemical weapons inspectors
Video has emerged purporting to show blue-helmeted UN inspectors
examining the aftermath of a chemical weapons attack in a suburb of
Damascus.
It shows the inspectors, equipped with gas masks and UN-blue rubber
gloves, collecting samples from the debris. They are using a noisy
sensor that appears to have detected noxious substances.
Updated
Refugee crisis
Sweden has urged other EU countries to follow its lead in offering residency to all Syrian refugees.
In an interview with the BBC, Sweden's immigration minister Tobias Billstrom, said Europe had a duty to act.
On Tuesday Sweden became the first European country to offer asylum status to any Syrian that requested it. Billstrom said:
If you look at the Syrian conflict death and destruction is handed
out daily. It is the worst conflict on this planet and in the face of
this we have to take action.
The action of Sweden is a perfectly normal one. Of course I would
like to see more states within and without the European Union follow our
example. It is important to understand that we all have a
responsibility in the face of [suffering] of our fellow human beings.
I don't think Sweden can solve all problems on its own. We have 28
member states within the EU and all have to try and shoulder the
responsibility for our fellow human beings within and without Syria.
Sweden's social-media-savvy foreign minister, Carl Bildt, tweets the
arrival of Barack Obama in Stockholm for talks ahead of the G20 summit
in St Petersburg.
Swedent was added to Obama's itinerary after he canceled plans to meet Putin in Moscow ahead of the summit.
Obama will travel to St Petersburg after leaving Stockholm.
Sweden is the only European country to have offered to grant asylum
to all Syrian refugees who apply. It has taken in 14,700 asylum seekers
from Syria since 2012, the BBC reports.
Updated
French debate
The Guardian's Paris correspondent, Angelique Chrisafis, looks ahead to today's Syria debate in the French National Assembly.
The French parliament will debate the question of intervention in Syria from 4pm this afternoon, but without a vote.
After addresses to the parliament and senate from the prime minister
Jean-Marc Ayrault and the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, MPs and
senators will thrash out their views on whether and how - as the
president François Hollande has stated - the Syrian regime should be
"punished" for chemical weapons use.
Some opposition MPs have warned that France must not merely "tag
along" behind Washington. The government insists it remains "determined"
to act on Syria.
The latest poll by CSA showed 74% of French people are in favour of
parliament being allowed to vote on the issue of military intervention.
Hollande, who is granted vast presidential powers by the French
constitution, is not obliged to seek a parliament vote before ordering
military action.
But the possibility of a vote at a later stage, after the US Congress
and once intervention plans are clearer, has not been totally ruled
out. Hollande has said that once he has "all the elements" in place, he
will address the French people on the Syria issue, likely in a televised
speech.
French prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault
waits for German president Joachim Gauck at the entrance of the Matignon
Hotel. Photograph: JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images
Reading Putin
EA World View reckons that the media, including the Guardian, are misreading Putin's comments to AP.
It says the key point is that Putin appears to be backing away from unconditional support for Assad.
Joanna Paraszczuk argues that Putin's claim that Russia would not
rule out supporting a UN resolution backing military action against
Assad if it was proven beyond doubt the he had used chemical weapons
represents a sea-change in the Kremilin's stance.
Really? Wasn't he just saying that for the benefit of his western audience?
It was clear from the interview that Putin believes there is a great
deal of doubt over who was responsible for the attack. In another point
in the interview he appeared to blame al-Qaida for the attack.
Discussing video of the aftermath of the attack Putin said:
These are horrible pictures. The question is only who did it and what
they did, and who is responsible for this. These pictures do not answer
the questions I have just posed. There is an opinion that it's a
compilation by these very rebels who are connected with al-Qaida and who
always distinguished by exceptional brutality.
And as the Israeli daily Haaretz notes, Putin also suggested that
Russia may sell its defence missile systems elsewhere if Western nations
attack Syria without UN backing.
Nevertheless, others also see a possible shift in Russia's stance.
The BBC's Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg doesn't go as far as EA
World View, but he does detect a more conciliatory personal approach
towards Obama.
This is what Putin said about his relationship with Obama.
President Obama hasn't been elected by the American people in order
to be pleasant to Russia. And your humble servant hasn't been elected by
the people of Russia to be pleasant to someone either.
We work, we argue about some issues. We are human. Sometimes one of
us gets vexed. But I would like to repeat once again that global mutual
interests form a good basis for finding a joint solution to our
problems.
Emile Hokayem, analyst at International Institute for Strategic
Studies, asks where Putin's comments leave Russia's self-imposed role as
a force for restraint on Assad.
Putin's warning
AP has a clip of its interview with Putin in which he warns the west against military action without UN approval.
Hollande has the power to order short military action without
parliamentary approval. However, Hollande now accepts that the “No” vote
in the House of Commons last week and President Obama’s decision to
consult Congress have left him in an impossible position. There is no
question of France acting alone if Congress rejects air strikes.
Opposition politicians point out that this means, in effect, that the
US Congress will decide whether French forces should go into action but
that the French parliament will not.
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