DHAKA: British MPs have rejected possible UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad`s government to deter the use of chemical weapons.

A government motion was defeated by 285 to 272, a majority of 13 votes.

PM David Cameron said "the government will act accordingly", effectively ruling out London`s involvement in any US-led strikes against Damascus.

The US said it would "continue to consult" with London, "one of our closest allies and friends".

"President Obama`s decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States," a White House statement said.

It added that Mr Obama "believes that 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".

Obama administration officials on Thursday told a group of US lawmakers in a conference call that "it is beyond a doubt that chemical weapons were used, and used intentionally by the Assad regime," said Eliot Engel, the senior Democratic member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr Engel said the officials cited evidence including "intercepted communications from high-level Syrian officials".

They also said they they had seen personnel being moved around Damascus that indicated "it was ready for something big like a chemical attack", he added.

Source: BBC

BDST: 0810 HRS, AUG 30, 2013
AKA/SRS