DHAKA: British prime minister David Cameron mistakenly named India among countries which had concluded that Syrian regime forces were behind a chemical attack near Damascus.

India’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.

New Delhi took note of the lapse during Cameron’s August 29 speech to lawmakers in London, in which he called for Britain to join military action against Syria after the attack near Damascus.

More than 1,000 people died, according to US intelligence.

‘We asked how this had come about and they admitted that this was a mistake,’ a foreign ministry spokesman said, saying the matter had been raised ‘informally’.

Cameron named India alongside other countries including Canada, Australia, Turkey and the United States which had concluded that forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons.

India has expressed concern about the worsening violence in Syria, but has pressed for any action against the Assad regime to be authorised through the United Nations.

BDST: 1428 HRS, SEPT 03, 2013
RoR/BSK