France says will remain poised for Syria strikes

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

In this Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by the United media office of Arbeen which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, members of the UN investigation team take samples from sand near a part of a missile that is likely to be one of the chemical rockets according to activists, in the Damascus countryside of Ain Terma, Syria. AP photo

France said Wednesday it would remain poised to launch military action against Syria over its use of chemical weapons despite ongoing attempts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
 
The warning came after a meeting between President Francois Hollande, his foreign and defence ministers and senior military figures.
 
"France will remain, in permanent contact with its partners, mobilised to punish the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and to deter them from using them again," a statement from Hollande's office read.
 
Hollande said France was nevertheless determined to give negotiations aimed at placing Syria's chemical weapons under international control a chance to succeed.
 
"The President of the Republic underlined France's determination to explore every avenue at the UN Security Council to allow, as quickly as possible, effective and verifiable control of the chemical weapons present in Syria," the statement said.
 
France is pushing for a binding Security Council resolution requiring Syria to swiftly implement its pledge to give up its chemical weapons or face punitive action.
 
Russia has offered to oversee the process and help destroy the arsenal, but is strongly opposed to presenting Syria, its closest ally in the Middle East, with an ultimatum.
 
Moscow has vetoed every Security Council resolution on Syria since the start of the country's civil war more than two years ago.