Kerry says Syria used sarin gas in deadly attack
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday spearheaded a drive to convince Congress to approve a military strike on Syria, saying Washington has proof the regime used sarin gas.
After President Barack Obama on Saturday asked US lawmakers to approve punitive military action against the Syrian regime, Kerry warned the world cannot turn a blind eye to chemical weapons use.
Hair and blood samples from the emergency workers who rushed to the scene of last month's attack in Damascus and given independently to the United States have shown signs of the powerful sarin nerve gas, Kerry told US television channels.
"In the last 24 hours, we have learned through samples that were provided to the United States and that have now been tested from first responders in East Damascus, (that) hair samples and blood samples have tested positive for signatures of sarin," Kerry told NBC's Meet the Press.
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"If the free world fails to respond to such an outrageous breach of international norms, dictators around the world will be encouraged in their efforts to follow the example set by Assad," the Syrian National Coalition said in a statement.
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"If the United States is unwilling to lead a coalition of people who are prepared to stand up for the international norm with respect to chemical weapons that's been in place since 1925, if we are unwilling to do that, we will be granting a blanket license to Assad to continue to gas."
He also warned that a retreat from strong US positions against chemical and nuclear weapons would send "a terrible message to the North Koreans, Iranians and others" about whether America was serious about non-proliferation.
http://news.yahoo.com/sarin-gas-used-damascus-attack-kerry-131700713.html;_ylt=A2KLOzKpdSNSWGMASznQtDMD
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