NATO will not take part in a Syria strike August 30, 2013 06:51 PM[image: Agence France Presse][image: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrives for a press conference on the second day of a NATO Defence ministers meeting on June 5, 2013 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS]NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrives for a press conference on the second day of a NATO Defence ministers meeting on June 5, 2013 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS[image: A+][image: A-]
COPENHAGEN: The suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria demands an international response but NATO will not take part, alliance head Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Danish media on Friday. "I see no NATO role in an international reaction to the (Syrian) regime," Rasmussen told reporters in the Danish town of Vejle, daily Politiken reported. He said the alleged use of chemical weapons was "a terrifying and horrible act. Chemical attacks are a clear violation of international standards -- a crime that can't be ignored." "It demands an international response, so it doesn't happen again," Rasmussen said. The NATO secretary general has in the past insisted on the need for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. UN inspectors have visited the scene of the August 21 suspected gas attack near the Syrian capital. The opposition says more than 1,300 people died when toxic gases were unleashed on Eastern Ghouta and Moadamiyet al-Sham. Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died of "neurotoxic" symptoms in the affected areas. Rasmussen said he firmly believed the Syrian regime was behind the attack. "I have no doubt that the regime carried out a chemical attack," he said, adding: "When you look at who has the chemical stocks and the means to use them in an attack, you have to say that it is the regime." "There's not much to suggest that the opposition would be in a position to carry out such an attack." Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-30/229372-nato-will-not-take-part-in-a-syria-strike.ashx#ixzz2dTTCnS3U (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) Germany rules out taking part in Syria military strikeAugust 30, 2013 12:34 PM (Last updated: August 30, 2013 06:15 PM)[image: Agence France Presse][image: Supporters of the left-wing Die Linke party protest in front of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against possible Western military action in Syria, August 27, 2013. The placards read: "Bombs don't make peace!" REUTERS/Thomas Peter]Supporters of the left-wing Die Linke party protest in front of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against possible Western military action in Syria, August 27, 2013. The placards read: "Bombs don't make peace!" REUTERS/Thomas Peter[image: A+][image: A-] BERLIN: Germany on Friday ruled out participating in possible strikes against Syria over alleged deadly chemical weapons attacks. "We have not considered it and we are not considering a military strike," government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters, adding that in any case, Berlin has not been asked to take part in any such military action. Seibert's comments came as France said it remained committed to a firm response despite British lawmakers' rejection of any involvement in military action. Germany earlier in the week said it would back "consequences" against the Syrian regime if it is confirmed that the regime was behind the chemical attacks. But it did not specify what those consequences would be and gave no indication then on whether it would be part of a military strike. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces elections for a third term on September 22, has held in recent days a flurry of phone conversations with world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin and Merkel agreed on Thursday on the need for the U.N. Security Council to study a report by U.N. experts on the alleged chemical attack, the Kremlin said. The team is on the last day of its probe into attack that reportedly took place in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21, and that the Syrian opposition says killed hundreds. The German chancellor had "emphasised that the inhumane poison gas attack against Syrian civilians requires an international reaction," Seibert said in a statement following her talks with the Russian leader. On Friday, Seibert reiterated that Germany hoped for a common position within the U.N. Security Council on Syria -- even though Russia has said it opposes any resolution permitting military action against Assad's regime. His comments echoed those of Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to the Saturday edition of the regional daily Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung, pre-released earlier. "We are pushing for the United Nations Security Council to find a common position and for the work of U.N. inspectors to be finished as quickly as possible," Westerwelle told the paper. A poll published Thursday showed that 58 percent of Germans would oppose military action by the West in Syria after the alleged chemical attack, while 33 percent said they would back it. The German government says it faces strict restrictions on the deployment of the military set down in the constitution in light of abuses by troops and paramilitary forces in the Nazi era. Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-30/229329-germany-rules-out-joining-syria-military-strike-minister.ashx#ixzz2dTU1V2TU (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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