UN powers start talks on draft resolution on military action against Syria

Free Syrian Army fighters and residents gather around a convoy of United Nations (UN) vehicles carrying a team of UN chemical weapons experts at one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus' suburbs of Zamalka on Wednesday,
Free Syrian Army fighters and residents gather around a convoy of United Nations (UN) vehicles carrying a team of UN chemical weapons experts at one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus' suburbs of Zamalka on Wednesday, Aug 28, 2013. Envoys from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States started talks on Wednesday on a British drafted UN Security Council resolution that could allow military action against President Bashar al-Assad, diplomats said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Envoys from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States started talks on Wednesday on a British drafted UN Security Council resolution that could allow military action against President Bashar al-Assad, diplomats said.

Britain wants the resolution to allow "all necessary measures to protect civilians" but Russia is expected to fiercely oppose western moves toward military strikes against Syrian government targets after the alleged use of chemical weapons near Damascus last week.

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