UK's Cameron: I Understand Obama's Decision on Syria
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Saturday he understood President Barack Obama's decision to ask the U.S. Congress to authorize military action against Syria, after his own parliament blocked him from involving British forces in any strikes.
"I understand and support Barack Obama's position on Syria," the British prime minister said in a tweet.
Cameron suffered the biggest defeat of his three years in office on Thursday when lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 285 to 272 against the government's call for action to punish the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons.
The opposition Labor party had called for "compelling" evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime had gassed its own people before launching an attack.
Cameron pledged to respect parliament's wishes. Obama told Cameron in a phone call on Friday that he "fully respected" the decision, according to Downing Street.
But he now risks suffering the same fate as the British leader.
The U.S. Congress is to debate Obama's decision to attack Syria during the week starting on September 9 when they return to work, its speaker said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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