David Cameron backs down on 'urgent' Syria strikes

Protesters outside Downing Street campaign against international military intervention in Syria British Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament on Thursday that he was convinced the Syrian regime was behind a chemical weapons attack, but admitted there was no "100-percent certainty". Opening a debate in the specially recalled House of Commons, Cameron told lawmakers that they had to "make a judgement".
"The question before the house today is how to respond to one of the most abhorrent uses of chemical weapons in a century, slaughtering innocent men, women and children in Syria," Cameron said.
"It's not about taking sides in the conflict, it's not about invading, it's not about regime change or indeed working more closely with the opposition.
"It's about the large-scale use of chemical weapons and our response to a war crime - nothing else."
The Commons is debating a motion from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, but due to resistance from the opposition Labour Party it has been watered down and now states that Britain would not take military action against the Syrian regime before United Nations inspectors report back on any evidence of chemical weapons attacks.
The opposition Labour Party are set to vote against the motion, with leader Ed Miliband making his case on the Commons floor.
"We have been having increasing doubts about the opaque nature of the government's motion. It does not mention anything about compelling evidence," a senior party source said.
Cameron told lawmakers: "In the end, there is no 100-percent certainty about who is responsible. You have to make a judgement.
"There is also no 100-percent certainty about what path of action might succeed or fail.
"But I think we can be as certain as possible that when we have a regime that has used chemical weapons on 14 occasions, that is most likely responsible for this large scale attack, that if nothing is done it will conclude that it can use these weapons again and again and on a larger scale and with impunity."
International pressure for action mounted after grisly pictures emerged after the August 21 attacks in Ghouta east of Damascus showing dead children who appeared to have been gassed to death. The Damascus denied it deployed chemical weapons and blamed the attack on rebels.
US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he has yet to make a decision on hitting Syria over horrific attacks last week that activists say killed hundreds of people and threatened to draw the West into the brutal 29-month conflict. Cameron promised President Barack Obama that Britain would stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the event of military action.
However, the Assad regime reportedly urged MPs "not to bomb us but to work with us" and drew parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Speaker of the Syrian Parliament wrote the open letter to Commons Speaker John Bercow, Sky News reported.
It said: "Before you rush over the cliffs of war, would it not be wise to pause? Remember the thousands of British soldiers killed and maimed in Afghanistan and Iraq."
An international strike would be "an aggressive and unprovoked act of war", the letter added.
However, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces wrote a rival letter calling on the UK to act to prevent future use of chemical weapons.
Secretary General Bader Jamous said: "We call upon you to send a message to the regime that it cannot gas sleeping children with impunity."
Meanwhile, Syria's nervous neighbours have stepped up preparations for conflict, with Israel authorising a partial call-up of arm reservists while Turkey put its forces on heightened vigilance.
Russia was reportedly sending warships to the Mediterranean, while Britain said it was sending fighter jets to the strategic island of Cyprus.
"Six RAF Typhoon jets have been deployed to Cyprus to protect UK interests and sovereign bases" the Ministry of Defence said.
Source: AFP