British Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken to US President Barack Obama on the situation in Syria before making a case to parliament for targeted military action to halt the use of chemical weapons. Downing Street said Cameron heard the “latest on US thinking” on the issue during his phone conversation with Obama, ahead of a National Security Council meeting and a House of Commons vote on Thursday.
“No decision has yet been taken. Any action we take or others take would have to be legal, would have to be proportionate,” Cameron said.
“It would have to be specifically to deter and degrade the future use of chemical weapons.
“Cameron said Britain will seek UN Security Council backing for action to protect Syrian civilians by submitting a draft resolution on the issue.
The Syrian government has blamed opposition fighters for an alleged chemical attack near Damascus on 21st August, in which hundreds of people were reportedly killed.
The latest phone call between Obama and Cameron was the second since the alleged attack.
Cameron was briefed by military chiefs after he asked parliament to be recalled from its summer recess to discuss the Syrian situation.
However, the government faces opposition from MPs who have pointed to Britain’s involvement in the long-drawn Iraq war.
Responding to critics, Cameron said Britain is only reacting to the alleged attack ordered by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
“This is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance in Syria or going further into that conflict…It’s about chemical weapons: their use is wrong and the world shouldn’t stand idly by,” he said.