Russia-US tensions: Cabinet gives May the go-ahead for Syria strike 'to deter further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime'
Donald Trump is yet to take a 'final decision' on what action the US will take according to the White House
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May's cabinet has agreed on the need to "take action" to deter use of chemical weapons following an emergency meeting at Downing Street.
The prime minister summoned her senior ministers to No 10 to discuss joining the United States and France in possible military strikes against Syria after saying “all the indications” were Bashar al-Assad's was responsible for a suspected nerve agent attack on civilians last weekend.
President Donald Trump had warned Russia of imminent military action in Syria, declaring missiles “will be coming” and denouncing Moscow for standing by Syria’s president, but on Thursday night the White House said that "no final decision" had been made about what Washington will do.
Mr Trump, Ms May and French President Emmanuel Macron have been in regular contact as they plot a course of action, with Mr Macron saying France has "proof" the Syrian government carried out the chemical attack which killed potentially doxens.
It followed the Kremlin's insistence that it would shoot down any missiles and attack their source, in developments that have placed the two global and nuclear superpowers closer to open conflict than at any time since the Cold War.
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Russia has repeatedly warned the West against attacking the infrastructure of Syria's government and army, which is also supported by Iran.
Moscow has said there was no chemical attack in Douma, near the capital Damascus.
Ms May recalled the ministers from their Easter holiday for a special cabinet meeting in Downing Street to discuss Britain’s response to what she has cast as a barbaric attack which cannot go unchallenged.
“The chemical weapons attack that took place on Saturday in Douma in Syria was a shocking and barbaric act,” Ms May said. “All the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible.”
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had said it intends to send investigators to Douma to look for any evidence of a chemical attack.
Ms May has faced calls to wait for unequivocal proof of a chemical attack by the Assad regime before committing British forces to retaliatory action.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, joined other opposition parties, as well as some Conservative backbenchers, in insisting MPs must be have a say on any British involvement in military action.
However, Ms May faces growing impatience from Washington, after Mr Trump's tweet to say the missiles “will be coming”.
The prime minister is not obliged to win parliament’s approval, but a non-binding constitutional convention to do so has been established since a 2003 vote on joining the US-led invasion of Iraq.
It has been observed in subsequent military deployments in Libya and Iraq.
Britain has been launching air strikes in Syria from its military base in Cyprus, but only against targets linked to Isis.
Parliament voted down British military action against Mr Assad’s government in 2013, in an embarrassment for David Cameron.
The vote deterred Barack Obama’s administration from similar action.
Additional reporting by agencies
Russian ships have left the Tartus naval base in Syria, a Russian MP has said, according to the Interfax news agency.
Vladimir Shamanov, who chairs the Russian defence committee of the lower house of parliament, said the vessels had left the Mediterranean base for their own safety.
"... this is normal practice" when there are threats of an attack he said.
Russia has warned the US and its allies against assuming the role of a "global policeman" in response to what it describes as fake claims of chemical weapons use in Syria.
A spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, Maria Zakharova, said Western leaders have no authority to be "investigators, prosecutors and executioners."
Ms Zakharova described the chemical weapons allegations as fake, but said the international chemical weapons watchdog should investigate them. She said Russia would ensure the monitors' security.
She went on to call for de-escalating the situation, urging the West to carefully weigh the consequences before taking any action.
Amber Rudd, the home secretary, has arrived at No 10 for Theresa May's emergency cabinet meeting.
The defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, and culture secretary, Matt Hancock, have also arrived at No 10.
Caroline Lucas, the leader of the Green Party, argues MPs must be given a vote on any decision to intervene in Syria.
The United States is committed to ending the Syrian civil war through the Geneva process, the US defence secretary, James Mattis, has said.
Mr Mattis told congress Russia was complicit in Syria's retention of chemical weapons.
He said he would notify congress leaders before any strike in Syria.
As the US weighs military action, Mr Mattis said the country was looking to avoid stoking an escalating situation in Syria that gets "out of control."
"I believe there was a chemical attack," he said.
The head of the intelligence agency GCHQ has said the Salisbury nerve agent attack last month shows how “reckless” Russia is prepared to be, Ashley Cowburn writes.
In his first speech since taking the job at the secretive department last year Jeremy Fleming — formerly a senior MI5 office — took aim at Moscow, describing recent actions as “particularly stark and shocking”.
Speaking at cyber conference on Thursday, he said: It demonstrates how reckless Russia is prepared to be. How little the Kremlin cares for the international rules-based order. How comfortable they are at putting ordinary lives at risk.
"The robust response from the UK and from the international community shows the Kremlin that illegal acts have consequences.
"And it looks like our expertise on Russia will be in increasing demand."
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has told Congress that he believes there was a chemical attack in Syria and said United States wants inspectors on the ground to collect evidence as soon as possible.
He warned collecting evidence will become more difficult as time passes.
"I believe there was a chemical attack and we are looking for the actual evidence," Mr Mattis told a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.
He added one of his major concerns about any US military strike was preventing an "out-of-control" escalation in the Syrian civil war, in which Russia, Iran, Turkey and others have taken sides.
Mr Mattis also accused Russia of being complicit in Syria's retention of chemical weapons, despite a 2013 deal requiring Syria to abandon them that Moscow helped broker.
Nato is calling on Russia and Iran to ensure international observers and medical staff are allowed in and around the area of the suspected chemical attack in Syria.
Secretary general Jens Stoltenberg earlier urged Syrian president Bashar Assad to allow "full and unimpeded access to international medical assistance and international monitoring".
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, he said it was also up to the regime's supporters Iran and Russia to "make that possible".
The Russian military says Syrian government forces are in full control of Douma, where a suspected gas attack last week killed more than 40 people.
Mr Stoltenberg said that consultations were ongoing among Nato allies on how to respond to the attack and said "it is important that those responsible are held accountable."
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