Britain says no Syria action before UN inspection results

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague. AFP Photo

Britain will not take military action against the Syrian regime before United Nations inspectors report back on evidence of chemical weapons attacks, according to a motion published by the government Wednesday that is set to be put to a parliamentary vote.
 
Lawmakers are due to vote on Britain's response to the attacks on Thursday but any military action will require a further vote of parliament's House of Commons after the UN experts report back, according to the motion.
 
The UN Security Council, of which Britain is a permanent member, should be immediately briefed as soon as the inspections are complete and then "every effort" should be made to secure a resolution from the Security Council backing military action, the motion said.
 
"The United Nations Security Council must have the opportunity immediately to consider that briefing and that every effort should be made to secure a Security Council Resolution backing military action before any such action is taken," it stated.
 
"Before any direct British involvement in such action a further vote of the House of Commons will take place."

UN must await inspectors' report before Syria action: Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday told his British counterpart William Hague of the need to wait for the results of a UN probe of an alleged chemical attack near Damascus before taking any action against Syria.
 
"The Russian side stressed the need to wait for the results of the work of the UN inspection mission who is currently in Syria (and) investigating the claims of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
 
The phone call took place at the request of the British side, the statement said.