BBC News:奧巴馬努力獲得國會授權(quán)對敘利亞行動

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President Barack Obama has announced that he will seek authorization from Congress formilitary action against Syria. Speaking at the White House, Mr. Obama again accused theSyrian government of carrying out a chemical weapon’s attack in Guta on the outskirts ofDamascus. But he said it was important to have a debate and a vote on the matter.

“For the last several days we’ve heard from members of Congress who want their voices to beheard. I absolutely agree. So this morning I spoke with all four congressional leaders andthey’ve agreed to schedule a debate and then a vote as soon as Congress come back in thesession while I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specificcongressional authorization. I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course andour actions will be even more effective.”

Members of Congress have welcomed President Obama’s decision to seek their backing formilitary intervention in Syria. The Republican leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell said thepresident’s role as commander in chief will be strengthened by it. From Washington here isRajini Vaidyanathan.

We’ve heard from senator Corker on the Senate Foreign Relation’s Committee who says thathe’s pleased that the president have listened to the suggestion to bring this issue to Congress,also Eliot Engel from the House Foreign Relation’s Committee who says the president’s made astrong and convincing case to the American people and he’s calling on the speaker to recallthe house of back from August recess to have a debate. It is worth noting that the latestopinion polls show that the American public isn’t in favor of any kind of military intervention.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron who suffered a parliamentary defeat on Syria onThursday said he understood and supported Mr. Obama’s position. Earlier the RussianPresident Vladimir Putin said US allegations that the Syrian government had used chemicalweapons made no sense. Mr. Putin said if the Americans have any evidence, they shouldpresent it to the UN Security Council.

“Common sense speaks for itself. The Syrian government forces are on the offensive. In the13 regions they’ve surrounded the rebels. In these conditions to give away the trump card tothose who continue and who called for external military intervention is simply utter folly anddoes not fit any logic at all. So I’m convinced that it’s nothing more than a provocation bythose who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict.”

The Syrian government says it’s armed forces are on full alert and ready to face any potentialforeign attack. State television quoted the Syrian prime minister Wael al-Halqi as saying thattroops had their finger on the trigger and were prepared for any challenge. Some reports saidthe Syrian army had been moving military equipment to civilian areas in anticipation ofpossible US-led strikes. BBC correspondent says residents have been stocking up on food.

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Thousands of protesters in Iraq have defied security threats staging demonstrations againstwhat they say a generous privileges and benefits enjoyed by members of parliament. Iraqipoliticians are entitled to pension payments of several thousand dollars a month far higherthan other workers. The protesters also aired longstanding grievances about widespreadcorruption and the poor state of public services.

The family of an Indian student who died after being gang raped on a bus in Delhi lastDecember say they are not satisfied with the sentence given to a teenager found guilty of hermurder. The man who was 17 at the time was sentenced to three years. This is the maximumsentence he can receive under Indian law because of his age. The victim’s father said thesentence was too lenient.

“I am very disappointed with the verdict. He committed a great crime, he deserves lifeimprisonment if not death penalty. This was sent a message that every teenage criminal canget away. I have lost fate in our judicial system.”

And an auction house in the English county of Surrey has sold a Daimler V8 limousine forabout 70,000 dollars advertised as having had one careful lady owner, Queen Elizabeth. Here isTom Singleton.

The Queen had taken delivery of the Daimler in 2001. For the next three years it ferried heraround her Windsor Castle estate and two in-from engagements in Buckingham Palace. Andthis most unusual of customers had some very particular requirements. The electricalwindows were adapted to avoid the wind blowing in her face too much and following herobservation that she had nowhere to put her handbag when accompanied by her lady inwaiting, an arm wrest with a special designed bag holder was installed, all of which was enoughto persuade its new owner to pay considerably over the odds.

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