Putin Cautions US On Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin today denied reports that Syria has used chemical weapons and urged the United States not to take action.

Mr Putin said it would be "utter nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks. Speaking to journalists in the Russian far-eastern city of Vladivostok, Mr Putin urged Mr Obama - as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate - to think about future victims in Syria before using force. He said it was ridiculous to suggest the Syrian government was to blame for the attack. "Syrian government troops are on the offensive and have surrounded the opposition in several regions," he said. "In these conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for a military intervention is utter nonsense." "So I'm convinced that is nothing more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict."He said that the US failure to present evidence to the international community was "simply disrespectful".

US military leaders last night confirmed that a sixth US warship is now within missile distance of Syria.