U.N Plead More Time On Syria Before U.S Launches Attack

The U.N.'s special envoy to Syria announced today that evidence suggests a "chemical substance" was used to kill hundreds of people in Syria last week, but the U.N. pleaded for more time before the U.S. and allies launch a retaliatory strike against the Syrian regime..

 The announcement comes as the U.S., France and Britain gear up for a military strike on the Syrian regime.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said, "With what has happened on the 21st of August last week, it does seem that some kind of substance was used that killed a lot of people: hundreds, definitely more than a hundred, some people say 300, some people say 600, maybe 1,000, maybe more than 1,000 people."

Syrian Life Amidst the Chaos

But Brahimi did not place the blame on the regime or the opposition. He also added, "International law says that any U.S.-led military action must be taken after" agreement in the U.N. Security Council. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked for another couple of days, saying "the team needs time to do its job" on the ground.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked for an extension, saying "the team needs time to do its job" on the ground.
Speaking in The Hague today, Ban joined Brahimi to urge the international community to work within the U.N. framework.
"The body entrusted with international peace and security cannot be missing in action," he said. "The Council must find the unity to act. It must use its authority for peace."

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted this morning, "we've always said we want the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities on Syria. Today they have an opportunity to do that."
Russia, a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and China will veto any Security Council resolution that includes military action. But the Obama administration may not wait for U.N. approval.
In the last 24 hours, Washington has ramped up its case against the Syrian regime.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday that allowing "the use of chemical weapons on a significant scale to take place without a response would present a significant challenge to, threat to the United States' national security."

On Tuesday, Syria's Foreign Minister challenged the Obama administration to show proof linking Assad to the attack.
"If they have any evidence of our use [of chemical weapons], I challenge them to show this evidence to [global] public opinion," he said at a press conference in Damascus. "It's the right of public opinion to know the truth of these allegations."