France supports 'firm' action in Syria

French President Francois Hollande has said he supports firm action to sanction Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Mr Hollande said last week's apparent chemical attack caused irreparable harm to the Syrian people and must not go unpunished.

He said all options are on the table for an intervention in Syria.

The British parliamentary vote against taking military action would not affect France's will to act, he added.

Speaking to Le Monde newspaper, he said he would not take any decision to act unless the conditions were there to justify that.

His comments come after the United States said it would continue to seek out an international coalition to act together on Syria.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said: "It is the goal of President (Barack) Obama and our government ... whatever decision is taken, that it be an international collaboration and effort."

Speaking during a trip to the Philippines, he added that the US would continue to consult with Britain.

"Our approach is to continue to find an international coalition that will act together. And I think you're seeing a number of countries state, publicly state, their position on the use of chemical weapons."

Mr Hagel's comments came after the Obama administration gave US politicians what it called fresh evidence that Syria's government was behind a chemical weapons attack.

During a conference late last night, US officials told members of Congress there was "no doubt" that chemical weapons were used in Syria last week.

Mr Obama aides cited intercepted communications of Syrian officials and evidence of movements by Syria's military around Damascus before the attack that killed hundreds, said US Representative Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The administration's 90-minute briefing on Syria for senior members of Congress was conducted by Mr Hagel, US Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and other high-ranking US officials.

Several politicians in both parties said they were impressed by the briefing and that it made a convincing case for military action.

But many were not persuaded, including several key politicians in both parties.

Britain votes down Syria action

Following British parliament's vote against military action in Syria, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said Britain would not take part in any strike.

However, he added: "I don't expect that the lack of British participation will stop any action."

The British government motion was defeated by 13 votes in what was a major blow to Prime Minister David Cameron.

However, Mr Obama has left little doubt in recent days that the choice was not whether, but when, to punish Mr al-Assad's government for last week's attack against Syrian rebels outside Damascus.

Obama administration officials said he was willing to launch a limited strike against Syria, even without specific promises of support from allies because US national security interests were at stake.

Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said after the British vote that Mr Obama's decision-making on Syria would be guided by "the best interests of the United States".

"The US will continue to consult with the UK government - one of our closest allies and friends," she said in a statement.

She added that Mr Obama believes "there are core interests at stake for the United States and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable".

Meanwhile, United Nations chemical weapons inspectors in Syria are due to finish their work on the outskirts of Damascus today and leave the country early tomorrow.

Inspectors will reportedly speak to doctors at a hospital in a government-held area of the capital today.

They will report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with their findings, which will be considered by the Security Council.

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