France has emerged as the main US ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament in a shock move rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington. The French parliament is to hold a debate on Wednesday on taking action on Syria, where more than 110,000 people have been killed in violence since an uprising against the regime began in March 2011. Government sources said French intelligence had compiled information showing the Syrian regime had stockpiled more than 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents, including Sarin gas, mustard gas and more powerful neurotoxic agents. French president Francois Hollande has vowed to "punish" President Bashar al-Assad for the alleged gas attack, which Washington says killed more than 1,400 people. The French president can order military action without parliamentary approval but some lawmakers have urged Hollande to put the issue to a vote.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 05:44:30 +0000
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