David Cameron recalls parliament to debate the UK’s response to the situation in Syria and the army draws up contingency plans, in the wake of last week’s alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus.
UK parliament has been recalled early and will meet on Thursday to discuss any future action and to vote on the UK’s response to the attack.
David Cameron’s spokesman said that the prime minister believes the chemical weapons attack, in which hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, is “absolutely abhorrent” and that the international community must respond.
He went on to say that Britain is considering a “proportionate response”, and that it is reasonable to assume that Britain’s armed forces are making contingency plans on how to respond.
No decisions on military action have been taken, and the spokesman said Britain will wait for evidence being gathered by a team of United Nations inspectors in the area, before making any decision.
“Any decision taken will be taken under a strict international framework,” he said, adding: “In terms of end-game, this is about looking at how we deter the use of chemical weapons because this is something that is completely abhorrent and against all international law.
“This is about deterring the use of chemical weapons.”
MPs were due to return to parliament from summer recess on 2 September.
Speaker agrees my request to recall Parliament on Thurs. There’ll be a clear Govt motion & vote on UK response to chemical weapons attacks
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) August 27, 2013
In a press conference, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said that the second day of a United Nations (UN) inspection team’s work had been postponed to Wednesday due to disagreements among the rebels over security arrangements.
For the first time, UN inspectors were on Monday finally allowed to investigate the scene of the suspected chemical weapons attack on 21 August near Damascus. The officials came under sniper fire as they drove to the area, despite assurances of their safety from both sides in the civil war.
Inspectors are trying to confirm if chemical weapons were used – not who may have used them – but there are fears that the delay in their inspection will make it difficult to determine.
This is about looking at how we deter the use of chemical weapons because this is something that is completely abhorrent Downing Street spokesman
During the press conference, Walid Moualem also said that Syria “utterly and completely” rejected accusations made by the US that the Syrian government was behind the chemical attack, and said Syria will defend itself by “all means available” against any foreign strikes: “The (government’s) military effort will not stop around Damascus.
“If the purpose (of foreign strikes) is to limit the victories of our armed forces, they will not be successful.”
The strong words from the British government come as international pressure to take action over the suspected attack grows. Following the attack last Wednesday, shocking footage emerged of victims of the alleged attack, many of them children.
Secretary of State John Kerry made it clear in a statement that the US holds President Bashar al-Assad responsible for using chemical weapons against civilians last week.
“President (Barack) Obama believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world’s most heinous weapons against the world’s most vulnerable people,” he said. “The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity. By any standard, it is inexcusable. And despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured, it is undeniable.”
Military chiefs from the US and its European and Middle Eastern allies have met in Jordan for what could be a council of war, should they decide to punish President Assad. However Moscow – a key regime ally which supplies arms to Syria – has backed Syrian claims that video footage of victims could be opposition propaganda.
In comments to a Russian newspaper, the Syrian president warned the US against any military intervention and denied government forces were responsible for any chemical weapons attack.
Hundreds of people died in Damascus suburbs in what appears to have been the worst chemical weapons attack since Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein fatally gassed thousands of Kurds in 1988.