Syria chemical attack must not go unpunished – French foreign minister (but France is in no hurry)
French officials spent much of Thursday engaged in behind the scenes talks with its allies in Washington and London over how to move forward in what was described as a "crucial" reaction to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. But despite being on military stand-by, the language emanating from Paris appeared to suggest the French government is keen to allow time to fully weigh up intervention options as well as allow the UN expert team time to conclude their report.
As David Cameron faced resistance in Westminster over an intervention, the French president deliberately struck a measured tone, stressing the overall importance of a political solution.
After meeting the Syrian opposition leader Ahmad al-Jarba in Paris, Francois Hollande said: "Everything must be done to reach a political solution, but that will not happen unless the [opposition] coalition is capable of appearing as an alternative, with necessary force, notably its army. We will only achieve this if the international community is capable of bringing a stop to this escalation of violence, of which the chemical massacre is just one illustration."
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the government minister and spokesperson, said that France deciding the "most appropriate response possible" meant "taking time to reflect, to consult with partners, to receive the conclusions of UN experts."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/29/syria-chemical-attack-french-foreign-minister