France says can't act alone on Syria, wants to create coalition
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault leaves after a Defence Council meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, August 28, 2013. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
PARIS | Mon Sep 2, 2013 2:12pm EDT
(Reuters) - France aims to build a coalition of countries to back military action against the Syrian government in response to a chemical weapons attack in Damascus, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday.
"This act cannot be left without a response," Ayrault said after presenting an intelligence report on Syria to lawmakers. "It's not for France to act alone. The president is continuing his work of persuasion to bring together a coalition without delay."
"France is determined to penalize the use of chemical weapons by (President Bashar al-)Assad's regime and to dissuade with a forceful and firm response," Ayrault said. "The objective is neither to topple the regime or liberate the country." he said, adding that only a political solution in Syria was possible.
(Reporting By John Irish and Alexandria Sage; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
