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                    UN Inspectors Leaving Syria by Saturday

   United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says U.N. inspectors
   probing an apparent chemical weapons attack in Syria will leave the
   country by Saturday.
   He spoke Thursday as the U.N. team set out on its third day of on-site
   work in the Damascus suburbs.
   Mr. Ban says the inspectors will report to him after finishing their
   two-week mission that was originally intended to probe earlier alleged
   chemical attacks in Syria. He asked the international community to
   allow the team to finish its investigation and present evidence before
   anyone decides on how to respond.
   U.S. President Barack Obama says he has not decided on any action, but
   with his administration convinced the Syrian government is at fault, he
   vowed that those who break international norms need to be held
   accountable.
   Mr. Obama told PBS television`s NewsHour Wednesday that any military
   strike would be limited, sending President Bashar al-Assad a message
   that future chemical weapons attacks would not be tolerated. He said he
   has no interest in an open-ended conflict in Syria
   The Syrian government has denied carrying out a chemical attack.
   On Thursday, White House officials are due to brief members of Congress
   on intelligence about the attack last week that killed hundreds of
   civilians in the Damascus suburbs. They plan to later publicly release
   an unclassified version of the report.
   British Prime Minister David Cameron is also due to discuss the
   situation in a session with his parliament on Thursday.
   Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is considering a
   British-drafted resolution on possible military action.
   Diplomats from the council`s five permanent members began talks
   Wednesday, but the measure is unlikely to advance because of Russian
   and Chinese opposition to outside intervention.
   Those two nations have used their veto power three times since 2011 to
   block resolutions targeting the Syrian government.
   The United States signaled Wednesday it will not let diplomatic
   paralysis at the U.N. prevent it from responding. State Department
   spokeswoman Marie Harf said Syria "cannot continue to hide" behind
   Russia`s stance at the U.N., and that the U.S. sees no way forward with
   Russia opposing "any meaningful action."
   Harf said Washington will consult with its allies as it considers its
   own military strike against Syria.
   The Russian Foreign Ministry Wednesday said U.N. action on Syria would
   be premature before chemical weapons inspectors in Damascus finish
   their work.
   Russia`s Interfax news agency quoted a military source Thursday saying
   Russia is sending a missile cruiser and an anti-submarine ship to the
   eastern Mediterranean in response to the developing situation.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-inspectors-leaving-syria-by-saturday/1739285.html