DHAKA: A Commons vote on the UK’s response to a chemical attack near Damascus hangs in the balance, after Labour demanded ‘compelling evidence’ of Syria’s guilt.

MPs had been due to vote on whether the UK should launch an attack against president Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

But David Cameron was forced to back down after Labour said it wanted to wait for UN inspectors to report first.

Labour could still vote against a watered-down motion on the ‘principle’ of launching military action, reports the BBC.

Cameron was not confident of gaining the backing of MPs for military action without Labour’s support, as a number of Tory and Lib Dem MPs were expected to rebel.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he wants to see more evidence president Assad’s regime carried out the chemical attack and does not want the UK to be pushed into action by an ‘artificial’ timetable.

The UK government will shortly publish a summary of its position on the legality of intervention in Syria.

BDST: 1812 HRS, AUG 29, 2013
RoR/RIS