Initial Western intelligence finds Syrian forces used chemical weapons [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Initial Western intelligence finds Syrian forces used chemical weapons

By Mark Hosenball and Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON | Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:30pm EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. and allied intelligence agencies have made a preliminary assessment that chemical weapons were used by Syrian forces in an attack near Damascus this week, likely with high-level approval from the government of President Bashar al-Assad, according to American and European security sources.

The early intelligence finding could increase pressure for action by President Barack Obama, who made clear that he planned to tread cautiously even as his aides sought to narrow their differences in debate over possible military responses to the Syrian government.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that the assessment was preliminary and, at this stage, they were still seeking conclusive proof, which could take days, weeks or even longer to gather.

But with a mounting international outcry over the apparent mass poisoning of hundreds of people, the issue appeared to have taken on a sense of urgency for the Obama administration.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/23/us-syria-crisis-obama-idUSBRE97M0E420130823