G20 leaders split over Syria

US president Barack Obama, was pressured on Thursday by European Council and China to back away from pursuing military action against Syria.

09:06 06 September 2013

G20 world leaders are divided over Syria. On the first day of the G20 summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that issues surrounding Syria will be discussed at working dinner. 

 

While US President Barack Obama was trying to get support for military action, China and Russia warned US to back away from pursuing military action without the UN backing. 

 

Meanwhile, Syria’s parliamentary speaker wrote to John Boehner urging the US congress not to rush into “irresponsible, reckless action.”

 

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has previously denied using chemical weapons that killed thousands of civilians. However, in recent news, Britain said that there are new evidence suggesting otherwise. US, on the other hand, said that the attack which took place on August 21 is to be blamed to the Syrian government based on its intelligence assessment. 

 

Mr Putin's spokesman dismissed intelligence assessment by US on Damascus attack. 

 

"We can't accept proof that is a long way from being convincing," said Dmitry Peskov.