The US is considering launching a punitive strike against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, blamed for an alleged gas attack which killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. Here’s a look at key Syria developments around the world on Monday
US
Obama will host Senator John McCain at the White House, hoping his ex-opponent will help sell the idea of US
intervention in Syria. The administration is trying to rally support for the strike
Russia
Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the information to prove that the Syrian regime was behind the attack was ?absolutely unconvincing?. ?There was nothing specific in the evidence,? he said
Syria
The head of the UN refugee agency in Syria said seven million Syrians, or almost one-third of the population, have been displaced by the country’s civil war. Five million are still in Syria; about two million have fled
France
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is scheduled to meet with the leaders of Parliament’s defence and
foreign affairs committees. His office said he will show a declassified report on Syria’s chemical weapons
China
It has urged the US not to take unilateral action. A foreign
ministry spokesman said Washington briefed Beijing about the matter and China is concerned about chemical weapon use
Australia
Australia has offered moral support for a military strike. Foreign minister Bob Carr’s spokesman said US secretary of state John Kerry called last week and that Australia supports the US
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said his country needs more information after Kerry reached out for support. Key said New Zealand wants to assess all steps before stating its position
Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her challenger in Germany’s upcoming election said they wouldn’t participate in military action against Syria. Merkel said there needs to be ?a collective answer by the UN? to the use of chemical weapons in Syria as she faced centre-left rival Peer Steinbrueck in a televised debate. Steinbrueck said he wouldn’t participate in military action as chancellor and would ?greatly regret it? if the US struck alone without an
international mandate