France keen to strike despite delay by US
2 Sept 2013 5:58 AM IST
French president Francois Hollande, who appears determined to launch imminent strikes on Syria, is hamstrung by the United States, which has delayed taking action -- and growing domestic opposition to military intervention.
Hollande, who unilaterally intervened in Mali to prevent Islamists from proceeding south towards the country’s capital, has repeatedly voiced his determination to ‘punish’ President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for alleged chemical weapons attacks on August 21.
France has been catapulted to the status of Washington’s main ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament in a shock move rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington.But Paris risks being seen as the ‘trailer’ to the American vehicle in case of an intervention, former French prime minister Francois Fillon warned over the weekend.
He said France should act ‘responsibly’ and not follow anyone into an attack ‘even if they are our friends and allies, the Americans. The region is a powder-keg,’ Fillon warned.
Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad on Sunday branded the French government as ‘irresponsible’ and accused Hollande and foreign minister Laurent Fabius of duping ‘the French people to justify the failed policies against Syria.’
Hollande, who unilaterally intervened in Mali to prevent Islamists from proceeding south towards the country’s capital, has repeatedly voiced his determination to ‘punish’ President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for alleged chemical weapons attacks on August 21.
France has been catapulted to the status of Washington’s main ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament in a shock move rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington.But Paris risks being seen as the ‘trailer’ to the American vehicle in case of an intervention, former French prime minister Francois Fillon warned over the weekend.
He said France should act ‘responsibly’ and not follow anyone into an attack ‘even if they are our friends and allies, the Americans. The region is a powder-keg,’ Fillon warned.
Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad on Sunday branded the French government as ‘irresponsible’ and accused Hollande and foreign minister Laurent Fabius of duping ‘the French people to justify the failed policies against Syria.’
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