ariel
09-08-2013, 05:11 PM
US secretary of state, meeting Arab League ministers in Paris, says there is no military solution to Syria's crisis.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has met members of the Arab League in Paris to discuss the crisis in Syria and possible US-led military action against the country.
After more than two years of civil war, the US is trying to drum up support for limited strikes on Syria in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack that Washington blames on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
However, in a joint news conference with Qatari foreign minister, Kerry acknowledged on Sunday that there is only a political solution to Syria's war, not a military one.
Kerry also said that the US is considering a French suggestion of possibly bringing the Syria issue back to the UN Security Council after UN inspectors who investigated claims of chemical weapons use have finished their report.
He said President Barack Obama had not yet made a decision on the issue.
“Today we discussed the possible deterring methods that a number of countries have agreed on in the G20 meeting and they will make their own announcements in the next 24 hours” Kerry said.
On his part, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Attiyah said his country was studying with its friends and the UN what it might do to protect the Syrian people.
"We will have a joint statement regarding Syria," Attiyah said.
The US and France are trying to build an international coalition to launch military strikes against the Syrian regime.
Kerry has insisted that international backing to take strong action is growing, not receding.
Iran warning
Meanwhile, Iran's new foreign minister said the US will ignite a fire across the Middle East if it attacks Syria, warning Western powers against warmongering.
"We are concerned about warmongering in this region," Mohammad Javad Zarif said on a visit to Iraq.
"Those who are short-sighted and are beating the drums of war are starting a fire that will burn everyone."
Over the weekend, Kerry said the US had agreed to provide additional information to those ministers who were not yet convinced that Assad orchestrated the August 21 attack in Damascus suburbs.
The US government insists it has the intelligence to prove the attack was carried out by Assad's regime.
Kerry said the Obama administration is distributing videos of the August 21 attack to help convince Americans and Congress that a military intervention is needed.
Kerry said the videos make clear that the attack is not something Americans can ignore. He says it is important for the American people to see and "connect" to this.
The US says the attack killed more than 1,400 people. US officials have released videos showing victims, including children, exhibiting what appear to be symptoms of nerve gas poisoning.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/09/20139813135817352.html
US Secretary of State John Kerry has met members of the Arab League in Paris to discuss the crisis in Syria and possible US-led military action against the country.
After more than two years of civil war, the US is trying to drum up support for limited strikes on Syria in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack that Washington blames on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
However, in a joint news conference with Qatari foreign minister, Kerry acknowledged on Sunday that there is only a political solution to Syria's war, not a military one.
Kerry also said that the US is considering a French suggestion of possibly bringing the Syria issue back to the UN Security Council after UN inspectors who investigated claims of chemical weapons use have finished their report.
He said President Barack Obama had not yet made a decision on the issue.
“Today we discussed the possible deterring methods that a number of countries have agreed on in the G20 meeting and they will make their own announcements in the next 24 hours” Kerry said.
On his part, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Attiyah said his country was studying with its friends and the UN what it might do to protect the Syrian people.
"We will have a joint statement regarding Syria," Attiyah said.
The US and France are trying to build an international coalition to launch military strikes against the Syrian regime.
Kerry has insisted that international backing to take strong action is growing, not receding.
Iran warning
Meanwhile, Iran's new foreign minister said the US will ignite a fire across the Middle East if it attacks Syria, warning Western powers against warmongering.
"We are concerned about warmongering in this region," Mohammad Javad Zarif said on a visit to Iraq.
"Those who are short-sighted and are beating the drums of war are starting a fire that will burn everyone."
Over the weekend, Kerry said the US had agreed to provide additional information to those ministers who were not yet convinced that Assad orchestrated the August 21 attack in Damascus suburbs.
The US government insists it has the intelligence to prove the attack was carried out by Assad's regime.
Kerry said the Obama administration is distributing videos of the August 21 attack to help convince Americans and Congress that a military intervention is needed.
Kerry said the videos make clear that the attack is not something Americans can ignore. He says it is important for the American people to see and "connect" to this.
The US says the attack killed more than 1,400 people. US officials have released videos showing victims, including children, exhibiting what appear to be symptoms of nerve gas poisoning.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/09/20139813135817352.html