Top US national security officials to consult Democratic, Republican senators over Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the situation in Syria at the State Department in Washington on Friday, Aug 30, 2013. Mr Kerry, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, and other senior US national security officials will hold conference cal
US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the situation in Syria at the State Department in Washington on Friday, Aug 30, 2013. Mr Kerry, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, and other senior US national security officials will hold conference calls about Syria on Saturday with the Senate Democratic Caucus as well as the Senate Republican Conference, a White House official said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United States Secretary of State John Kerry, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, and other senior US national security officials will hold conference calls about Syria on Saturday afternoon with the Senate Democratic Caucus as well as the Senate Republican Conference, a White House official said.

The calls, which will be unclassified, are part of "the Administration's consultations regarding the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria on August 21", the official said.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice, as well as Admiral James Winnefeld, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will also participate, the official said.

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