Sydney: France has taken a U-turn on supporting a global resolution to launch a retaliatory missile strike on Syria, leaving the United States and its other allies further isolated on their decision to punish the Bashar al-Assad regime for using chemical weapons on their people.
President Francois Hollande announced at the G-20 leaders` summit that Paris would decide to intervene in Syrian conflict only after the United Nations issues its investigation report on the use of chemical weapons in the suburbs of Damascus, News.com.au reports.
The decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had called on parties to step back from the conflict, until and unless the UN provided proof against Assad`s troops.
Earlier, the French president had declared that it had evidence that Bashar al-Assad regime had used chemical weapons on its citizens, killing more than 1400 people, including 426 children.
Putin said his talks with President Barack Obama had been constructive, but they failed to reach any resolution on the Syrian attack.
Washington said it was not looking forward to secure Moscow`s support at the UN on two-month`s limited action in Syria.
Russia warned the US and its allies against striking any chemical weapon storage facilities in Syria, expressing fears that release of toxic chemicals could give access to militants groups on the chemical weapons.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has also denied being part of any kind of military action in Syria because of opposition from Parliament.
Obama, meanwhile, said he trusted his constituents and was persuading the American public, the international community and Congress to back military action against Syria.
He ruled out the possibility of an imminent threat to the US from the chemical weapons use in Syria, but he said action was essential to uphold prohibitions against the use of weapons of mass destruction.
However, Australia, who is the strongest ally of the US, has extended its full support in striking Syria over use of weapons of mass destruction.
Australia also laid out a medical pact for Syria, under which medicines will be distributed throughout government and anti-government zones, hospitals and their staff will be protected, and sick and wounded will be safely evacuated from war-torn region.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned that military strikes could spark further sectarian violence in the country.
ANI
