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Syria crisis: David Cameron makes case for military action Syria crisis: David Cameron makes case for military action
(35 minutes later)
Britain could launch strikes against the Syrian regime without the backing of the United Nations, according to its own legal advice.Britain could launch strikes against the Syrian regime without the backing of the United Nations, according to its own legal advice.
The advice states the legal basis for any such action would be "humanitarian intervention", even if UN permanent members Russia and China block it.The advice states the legal basis for any such action would be "humanitarian intervention", even if UN permanent members Russia and China block it.
UK intelligence chiefs have told the PM it is "highly likely" the Syrian government was responsible for a chemical attack last week.UK intelligence chiefs have told the PM it is "highly likely" the Syrian government was responsible for a chemical attack last week.
MPs are due to debate the issue. MPs are now debating the issue.
Deter future attacksDeter future attacks
The Syrian government has denied it is responsible for a suspected chemical attack near Damascus on 21 August in which hundreds of people are reported to have died, blaming opposition forces.The Syrian government has denied it is responsible for a suspected chemical attack near Damascus on 21 August in which hundreds of people are reported to have died, blaming opposition forces.
But Prime Minister David Cameron believes there is "compelling" evidence from the intelligence services and also from publicly available material including YouTube videos of the atrocity. But Prime Minister David Cameron believes there is "compelling" evidence from the intelligence services and from publicly available material, including YouTube videos of the atrocity, that it carried out the attack.
Downing Street has also released a statement, based on the formal legal advice by the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, that limited military strikes to deter future chemical weapons attacks would be in line with international law. He told MPs he was "deeply mindful" of past conflicts and in particular "what went wrong with the Iraq conflict".
US President Barack Obama has said he has not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria. "But this is not like Iraq," he added. "What we are seeing in Syria is fundamentally different".
Other nations are also considering the next move. Downing Street has released a statement, based on the formal legal advice by the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, that limited military strikes to deter future chemical weapons attacks would be in line with international law.
The British parliament is now due to vote on whether to back the principle of military intervention, but the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Ed Miliband, has said MPs should not have to decide on what he called an "artificial timetable". US President Barack Obama has said he has not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria. Other nations are also considering the next move.
The party has said it will vote against the government's motion. The UK wants a UN Security Council resolution to take "all necessary measures" to help civilians, and presented a draft resolution to members on Wednesday.
MPs will have to take part in a further vote, next week, authorising strikes. Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country will defend itself against any aggression.
In other developments:In other developments:
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said in the event of military action cruise missiles could be launched from US ships in the Gulf or the Mediterranean, or Royal Navy vessels including submarine HMS Tireless. The UK Parliament will later vote on whether to back the principle of military intervention, but the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Ed Miliband, has said MPs should not have to decide on what he called an "artificial timetable".
The party has said it will vote against the government's motion, and is to table its own amendment, saying that there must be "compelling evidence" the Syrian regime was responsible for the use of chemical weapons.
The Speaker of the Syrian parliament has written to his counterpart in London inviting a British parliamentary delegation to visit Damascus as soon as possible.
French President Francois Hollande has also yet to decide about a military intervention. But on Thursday, after meeting Ahmed Jarba, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, Mr Hollande said a political solution would only be possible if "the international community can put a temporary stop to this escalation in violence".
Elsewhere, a Chinese state-run newspaper has warned Western governments that there are no excuses for air strikes on Syria before the UN has completed its investigation.
And Russia, President Assad's main international ally, also says it opposes any foreign military intervention in Syria.
But in the event of any military action, BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said cruise missiles could be launched from US ships in the Gulf or the Mediterranean, or Royal Navy vessels including submarine HMS Tireless.