Britain Seeks U.N. OK For Military Action Against Syria
Some of the latest developments related to the crisis in Syria and the increasing likelihood that the U.S. and its allies will soon launch missile strikes on targets there in response to last week's alleged use of chemical weapons by the regime of President Bashar Assad:
— U.N. Security Council. Britain "has drafted a resolution condemning the chemical weapons attack by Assad & authorising necessary measures to protect civilians," Prime Minister David Cameron's office announced on its official Twitter page early Wednesday.
That resolution, Cameron's office added, "will be put forward at a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council later today in New York."
Now, as NPR's Philip Reeves tells our Newscast Desk, attention will:
"Focus on what the options encompassed by the words 'necessary measures.' Cameron is trying to convince a skeptical parliament and public to support plans to join the U.S. in a military strike against President Assad's regime. This faces resolute opposition from Russia and China — both permanent member of the Security Council. But by putting forward the resolution, Cameron can argue that he at least tried to get U.N. Security Council backing."
Parallels
New at 11:35 a.m. ET: Who Are Syria's Friends And Why Are They Supporting Assad?