08/29/2013, 00.00
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Obama 'sure' of Damascus’ use of chemical weapons, but unsure of what action to take

The American public is 60% opposed to any military intervention in Syria. British Prime Minister Cameron blocked by parliament: No action before the results of the UN inspection on use of Chemical Weapons. New videos on the use of chemical weapons by the Free Syrian Army . Ban Ki -moon : Give experts time.

Washington (AsiaNews) - Barack Obama is certain that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against the population of Ghouta (Damascus outskirts) . But it is still not sure what action to take.

Speaking to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service ) , the U.S. president said that he fears a possible chemical attack against his country and that it is important to ensure that " We do have to make sure that when countries break international norms on weapons like chemical weapons that could threaten us, that they are held accountable. "

Obama is the latest high profile figure to express his certainty of Damascus' responsibility in the chemical weapons attack. Previously Joe Biden, Vice President , and John Kerry, Secretary of State had spoken out. But unlike these two, who called for military intervention, the U.S. president is more cautious .

Analysts attribute this to the pacifist attitude on which Obama was elected (the " anti-Bush " , who declared war on Afghanistan and Iraq ), but especially American public opinion that is 60% contrary to any military involvement even if Damascus is proven responsible .

Obama said he did not believe that the rebels have chemical weapons, but several blogs in the U.S. have posted links to videos showing soldiers of the Free Syrian Army firing chemical weapons on a Syrian village and storing chemical weapons of Saudi origin .

A UN Security Council convened last night ended with a stalemate. Britain wanted to pass a resolution on Syria to protect civilians, on the model of what happened to Libya. But Russia and China's opposition blocked the proposal.

Today, the China Daily published an editorial in which they accuse the United States and its allies of acting like "judge, jury and executioner ." "Any military intervention in Syria - warned the newspaper - would have serious consequences on regional security and would violate international norms". Such a move, it adds, "will only to exacerbate the crisis and could have unforeseen and unpleasant consequences."

In Britain the intervention of Prime Minister David Cameron has been slowed by the parliament which, before any move , demands to see the results of the UN inquiry into the use of chemical weapons.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said that the team of experts who are gathering evidence on the possible chemical attack "still needs four days."

 

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