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總統巴拉克·奧巴馬將努力獲得國會授權對敘利亞實施軍事行動。奧巴馬在白宮發表講話,他再次指責敘利亞政府在大馬士革郊區庫塔實施化學武器襲擊,但他說就此時進行辯論並表決很重要。
“過去幾天,我們聽說國會議員希望我們尊重他們的發言權,我絕對支持。因此今天早上,我與四名國會領導人都談了話,他們同意計畫等國會開會時儘快進行辯論並表決,而我認為實施軍事行動是不需要國會的專門授權的。我知道如果我們採取這個路線,我們的國家就會更強大,我們的行動也會更見效。”
對於總統奧巴馬尋求國會支持以對敘利亞進行軍事干預,國會議員表示歡迎。參議院共和黨領袖明奇·麥康奈爾說,通過這次行動總統作為三軍統帥的角色將得到加強。RajiniVaidyanathan在白宮報導。
我們從參議院外交關係委員會的議員科克那裡瞭解到,他很高興總統聽取建議將這個問題提交國會,同時眾議院外交關係委員會的伊里亞德·恩格爾說,總統向美國人民做出強有力且令人信服的表示,他呼籲眾議院結束8月份的休會以進行辯論。值得注意的是,最近的民調顯示美國公眾不支援任何形式的軍事干預。
週四在敘利亞問題上在議會遭遇失敗的英國首相大衛·卡梅倫表示,他理解並支持奧巴馬的立場。早些時候,俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾·普京說,美國所謂敘利亞政府使用化武的斷言是沒有意義的。普京說如果美國有證據,應該將之遞交給聯合國安理會。
“常識是不言而喻的,敘利亞政府軍先發制人。他們在13個地區包圍了叛軍,在這種情況下,對那些繼續呼籲進行外部軍事干預的人打出王牌是完全預存的,也不符合任何邏輯。因此我相信,那些希望將他國拖入敘利亞衝突的人不過是在挑釁。”
敘利亞政府稱其武裝部隊正高度戒備,隨時準備應對任何潛在的外國進攻。國家電視臺援引總理總理哈勒吉的話,稱部隊已箭在弦上,做好準備應對任何挑戰。有的報導稱敘利亞軍隊正將武器裝備運往平民地區,以應對可能的以美國為主導的打擊。BBC記者說居民已經開始囤積糧食。
這裡是BBC新聞報導。
伊拉克數千名抗議者不顧安全威脅發起遊行,反對所謂國會議員享受的特權和好處。伊拉克政客每月能享受幾千美元的養老金,比其他工人高出很多。抗議者還對普遍的腐敗和糟糕的公共服務表示長期以來的不滿。
去年12月一名印度學生在遭輪奸後死亡,其家人稱對那名導致她死亡的少年的判刑不滿。這名男子當時17歲,被判三年徒刑。考慮到他的年齡,這是印度法律下他能獲得的最大刑罰。受害者的父親說判刑太過寬容。
“我對判刑非常死亡,他犯下了大罪,如果不判死刑,他起碼也要終身監禁。這就傳達這樣的資訊,即少年犯可以逍遙法外。我對國家的司法系統已經失望。”
英國薩里郡一家拍賣公司以近7萬美元的價格售出一輛戴姆勒V8豪華轎車,宣稱這輛車曾為一位仔細的女士—伊莉莎白女王所有。Tom Singleton報導。
女王2001年得到這輛戴姆勒,在接下來的三年裡,這輛車載著她往返于溫莎城堡莊園和白金漢宮之間。這位最不尋常的顧客有些非常特別的要求,車上的電氣窗用來避免風吹到臉上太多,她發現侍女陪坐時車上沒地方放手袋,就安裝了一個專門設計的夾袋器,所有這些都足以說服新主人為此花大價錢。
BBC新聞。
BBC News with Nick Kelly
President Barack Obama has announced that he will seek authorization from Congress for military action against Syria. Speaking at the White House, Mr. Obama again accused the Syrian government of carrying out a chemical weapon’s attack in Guta on the outskirts of Damascus. 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 be heard. I absolutely agree. So this morning I spoke with all four congressional leaders and they’ve agreed to schedule a debate and then a vote as soon as Congress come back in the session while I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization. I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course and our actions will be even more effective.”
Members of Congress have welcomed President Obama’s decision to seek their backing for military intervention in Syria. The Republican leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell said the president’s role as commander in chief will be strengthened by it. From Washington here is Rajini Vaidyanathan.
We’ve heard from senator Corker on the Senate Foreign Relation’s Committee who says that he’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 a strong and convincing case to the American people and he’s calling on the speaker to recall the house of back from August recess to have a debate. It is worth noting that the latest opinion 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 on Thursday said he understood and supported Mr. Obama’s position. Earlier the Russian President Vladimir Putin said US allegations that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons made no sense. Mr. Putin said if the Americans have any evidence, they should present it to the UN Security Council.
“Common sense speaks for itself. The Syrian government forces are on the offensive. In the 13 regions they’ve surrounded the rebels. In these conditions to give away the trump card to those who continue and who called for external military intervention is simply utter folly and does not fit any logic at all. So I’m convinced that it’s nothing more than a provocation by those 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 potential foreign attack. State television quoted the Syrian prime minister Wael al-Halqi as saying that troops had their finger on the trigger and were prepared for any challenge. Some reports said the Syrian army had been moving military equipment to civilian areas in anticipation of possible 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 against what they say a generous privileges and benefits enjoyed by members of parliament. Iraqi politicians are entitled to pension payments of several thousand dollars a month far higher than other workers. The protesters also aired longstanding grievances about widespread corruption and the poor state of public services.
The family of an Indian student who died after being gang raped on a bus in Delhi last December say they are not satisfied with the sentence given to a teenager found guilty of her murder. The man who was 17 at the time was sentenced to three years. This is the maximum sentence he can receive under Indian law because of his age. The victim’s father said the sentence was too lenient.
“I am very disappointed with the verdict. He committed a great crime, he deserves life imprisonment if not death penalty. This was sent a message that every teenage criminal can get 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 for about 70,000 dollars advertised as having had one careful lady owner, Queen Elizabeth. Here is Tom Singleton.
The Queen had taken delivery of the Daimler in 2001. For the next three years it ferried her around her Windsor Castle estate and two in-from engagements in Buckingham Palace. And this most unusual of customers had some very particular requirements. The electrical windows were adapted to avoid the wind blowing in her face too much and following her observation that she had nowhere to put her handbag when accompanied by her lady in waiting, an arm wrest with a special designed bag holder was installed, all of which was enough to persuade its new owner to pay considerably over the odds.
BBC News