Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present
to the UN evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near
Damascus.
Mr Putin said it would be "utter
nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks.
US President Barack Obama says he is
considering military action against Syria after intelligence reports that 1,429 people were killed on 21
August.
UN weapons inspectors have left Syria
after gathering evidence for four days.
They crossed into neighbouring Lebanon.
They are due to go to the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prevention
of Chemical Weapons in the Netherlands.
The US says hundreds of children were
among those killed in the suspected chemical weapons attacks, which the US says
was carried out by the Syrian government.
Syria said the US claim was "full of
lies", blaming rebels for the attacks.
US President Barack Obama Obama said on
Friday the US was planning a "limited, narrow" military response that
would not involve "boots on the ground".
'Trump card'
The inspectors' departure from Syria
removes both a practical and a political obstacle to the launch of US-led
military action, correspondents say.
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says
people are worried and are making preparations.
They do not know what Mr Obama means by a
limited attack and what consequences it will have for them, he adds.
Speaking to journalists in the Russian
far-eastern city of Vladivostok, Mr Putin urged Mr Obama - as a Nobel Peace
Prize laureate - to think about future victims in Syria before using force.
He said it was ridiculous to suggest the
Syrian government was to blame for the attack.
"Syrian government troops are on the
offensive and have surrounded the opposition in several regions," he said.
"In these conditions, to give a
trump card to those who are calling for a military intervention is utter
nonsense."
"So I'm convinced that is nothing
more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the
Syrian conflict."
He said that the US failure to present
evidence to the international community was "simply disrespectful".
"If there is evidence it should be
shown. If it is not shown, then there isn't any," he said.
The main findings of the released
unclassified summary of the US evidence state that:
· the attack killed 1,429 people, including 426
children
· Syrian military chemical weapons personnel were
operating in the area in the three days before the attack
· Satellite evidence shows rockets launched from
government-held areas 90 minutes before first report of chemical attack
· 100 videos attributed to the attack show
symptoms consistent with exposure to nerve agent
· Communications were intercepted involving a
senior Damascus official who "confirmed chemical weapons were used"
and was concerned about UN inspectors obtaining evidence
'Completely unexpected'
Russia - a key ally of Syria - has
previously warned that "any unilateral military action bypassing the UN
Security Council" would be a "direct violation of international
law".
Moscow, along with China, has vetoed two
previous draft resolutions on Syria.
Mr Putin also expressed surprise at a
vote in the British parliament on Thursday ruling out participation in military
action.
"I will be honest: this was
completely unexpected for me," he said.
"This shows that in Great Britain,
even if it is the USA's main geopolitical ally in the world... there are people
who are guided by national interests and common sense, and value their
sovereignty."
Meanwhile in France - seen as the main US
ally since the UK vote - an opinion poll suggested that 64% opposed the use of
force.
Neither France nor the US needs
parliamentary approval for military action.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said
his country will defend itself against any Western "aggression".
Forces which could be
used against Syria:
• Four US destroyers - USS Gravely, USS Ramage, USS Barry and USS Mahan - are in
the eastern Mediterranean, equipped with cruise missiles. The missiles can also
be fired from submarines, but the US Navy does not reveal their locations
• Airbases at Incirlik and Izmir in Turkey, and in Jordan, could be
used to carry out strikes
• Two aircraft carriers - USS Nimitz and USS Harry S Truman are in the wider region
• French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is currently in Toulon in the western Mediterranean
• French Raffale and Mirage aircraft can also operate from Al-Dhahra airbase in the
UAE
