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                    Obama Presses Syria Strike at G20 Summit

   U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Russia for a meeting of
   world leaders that is expected to be overshadowed by debate over
   possible U.S. military strikes in Syria.
   The Syrian crisis is not on the official agenda for the two-day Group
   of 20 global economic summit in Saint Petersburg, but leaders are
   discussing the issue on the sidelines.
   Mr. Obama is seeking broader support, both at home and abroad, for
   military strikes against Syria`s government for allegedly using
   chemical weapons on its civilians.
   Shortly after arriving, Mr. Obama discussed Syria`s use of chemical
   weapons, and other issues, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
   Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that Western strikes
   without U.N. Security Council approval would be an unacceptable
   "aggression." But he said he would support a strike if there were
   "convincing" proof that Damascus used chemical weapons.
   White House adviser Ben Rhodes says there are currently no plans for a
   bilateral meeting between Mr. Obama and Mr. Putin, but there will be
   opportunities for "interactions" between the two leaders on the
   sidelines of the summit.
   Rhodes told reporters on Air Force One en route to the summit the
   United States will continue to present evidence to Russia that the
   Syrian regime was behind the attack, but will not entertain implausible
   theories."
   Russia, Syria`s main supplier of arms, and China have already vetoed
   three U.N. Security Council resolutions that would have punished
   President Assad`s government.
   Speaking ahead of the summit, Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu
   Guangyao said Thursday any military action against Syria would cause a
   hike in oil prices and have a "negative impact" on the global economy.
   On Wednesday, a key U.S. Senate panel approved a plan that would call
   for limited strikes. The measure, which also rules out deploying U.S.
   ground troops to Syria, must still pass both houses of Congress.
   U.N. officials continue to look for a political settlement to the
   conflict. Officials say U.N.-Arab League envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi
   is headed to St. Petersburg to help U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon organize a
   Syrian peace conference.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-presses-syria-strike-at-g20-summit/1743731.html