MPs debate Syria after ministers drop quick vote on action
Baku, August 29 (AZERTAC). MPs will debate military action in Syria in principle only, after the government dropped plans for an early vote on British intervention.
A Commons motion to be debated later states that a final vote on action should be held only after UN inspectors report on an alleged chemical attack.
The government will also publish legal advice on taking military action later.
Labour will push its amendment to a vote and has not yet decided whether to support the government motion.
The party has demanded "compelling evidence" that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad`s regime was responsible for last Wednesday`s chemical attack near Damascus.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said he had not wanted a decision on military action to be made on an "artificial timetable" and it was important to "learn the lessons of Iraq", and give the UN inspectors time to present their evidence.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr. Miliband was able to claim a political victory and the government, even having backed down, could not be confident of getting sufficient MPs to vote for their motion.
Asked if ministers had backed down, Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was necessary to proceed "on a consensual basis" and said the prime minister recognized "the deep concerns in this country over what happened over Iraq".
On Wednesday, the UK presented the UN with a draft resolution authorizing "necessary measures" to protect Syrian civilians.
The Syrian government has blamed opposition forces for the suspected chemical weapons attack in which hundreds of people are reported to have died.
US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday his country was certain the Assad regime was responsible - though he also said he had not made a decision on a military strike.
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