PARIS: Russia on Monday said the proof of chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime presented to Moscow by the US is “absolutely unconvincing,” while France said it was ready to provide "clear evidence."
Stepping up its support for the Assad regime, President Vladimir Putin was planning to send a delegation of parliamentarians to Washington to sway US lawmakers against supporting a punitive strike, according to a report by news agency Interfax.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said “there was nothing specific there, no geographic coordinates, no names, no proof that the tests were carried out by the professionals.” He did not describe the tests further.
President Barack Obama initially seemed poised to launch military action without asking Congress, but over the weekend changed his mind, a decision that delays any strike until after Congress returns from summer recess next week.
At issue in the escalating diplomatic confrontation between the US and the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad are alleged chemical weapons attacks on rebel-held areas in western and eastern suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus on Aug. 21.
The US said it has proof that the Assad regime is behind attacks that Washington claims killed at least 1,429 people, including more than 400 children. Syrian officials have denied the allegations, blaming rebel fighters.
Lavrov brushed aside Western evidence of an alleged Syrian regime role. Russia, along with China and Iran, has staunchly backed Assad throughout the conflict.
“What our American, British and French partners showed us in the past and have showed just recently is absolutely unconvincing,” Lavrov said at Russia’s top diplomatic school. “And when you ask for more detailed proof they say all of this is classified so we cannot show this to you.”
With US President Barack Obama also lobbying Congress to back strikes, the Syrian regime said it remained on alert for a possible attack, urging the United Nations to “prevent any aggression” against it.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen waded into the debate on Monday and said he was personally convinced the chemical attack had taken place and that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime was responsible.
“Personally I am convinced, not only that a chemical attack has taken place ... but I am also convinced that the Syrian regime is responsible,” he said.
He called for a response that would “send a very clear message” against the use of chemical weapons, but said any military action should be “very short, sharp (and) tailored.”
French government sources said evidence proving the regime’s involvement in the attack would be provided to top lawmakers at a meeting with Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault at 1500 GMT.
“We are going to give parliamentarians everything that we have — classified until now — so that each of them can take into account the reality of this unacceptable attack,” Ayrault said.
A government source said lawmakers would be given “evidence of different kinds that will allow the regime to be clearly identified as responsible for the August 21 chemical attack.”
The French parliament is to hold a debate Wednesday on taking action on Syria, where more than 110,000 people have been killed in violence since an uprising against the regime began in March 2011.
Government sources said Sunday that French intelligence had compiled information showing the Syrian regime had stockpiled more than 1,000 tons of chemical agents, including sarin gas, mustard gas and more powerful neurotoxic agents.
Hollande has vowed to “punish” Assad for the alleged gas attack, which Washington says killed more than 1,400 people.
The French president can order military action without parliamentary approval but some lawmakers have urged Hollande to put the issue to a vote, as Obama is doing in the United States.
France has emerged as the main US ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament, in a shock move, rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington.
Britain’s government said Monday it had “no plans” to hold a second parliamentary vote on joining military action.
But public opinion in both France and the US is deeply skeptical, and in a surprise move Obama put off threatened missile strikes, saying Saturday he would seek approval from Congress first.
That pushed back any US-led military action until at least September 9, when US lawmakers return from their summer break.
Britain’s parliament narrowly voted against British participation in a military strike last week, despite appeals by Prime Minister David Cameron, and the Arab League has stopped short of endorsing a Western strike against Syria.
In an emergency meeting on Sunday, the 22-state League called on the United Nations and the international community to take “deterrent” measures under international law to stop the Syrian regime’s crimes, but could not agree on whether to back US military strikes.
Russia or China would likely veto any UN Security Council resolution sanctioning a Western strike against Syria.
China is “highly concerned” about possible unilateral military action against Syria and believes the international community must “avoid complicating the Syrian issue and dragging the Middle East down into further disaster,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Monday.
In Washington, the Obama administration was lobbying to secure domestic support.
Obama was to meet Monday with former political rival Sen. John McCain at the White House, hoping the foreign policy hawk will help sell the idea of US military intervention.
On Capitol Hill, senior administration officials briefed lawmakers in private on Sunday to explain why the US was compelled to act against Assad. Further meetings were planned from Monday to Wednesday.
The Syria conflict erupted in March 2011 as an uprising against Assad that quickly transformed into a civil war. More than 100,000 Syrians have been killed in the conflict.
In Damascus, the Syria representative of the UN refugee agency, Tarik Kurdi, said that five million Syrians have been displaced inside the country by the war.
In addition, nearly 2 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries, according to previous UN figures, bringing the total number of uprooted Syrians to about 7 million, or nearly one-third the country’s estimated population of 23 million.
Kurdi said the need for aid is far greater than what the international community has provided so far.
“Whatever efforts we have exerted and whatever the UN has provided in humanitarian aid, it is only a drop in the sea of humanitarian needs in Syria,” he told The Associated Press. The funding gap “is very, very wide,” he added.