UK parliament votes down armed action against Syria

Western military intervention in Syria over the Basher al-Assad regime's alleged use of chemical weapons on rebel strongholds looks increasingly unlikely, as British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday lost a vote endorsing military action against Syria by 13 votes.

Western intelligence agencies have no doubt that the Assad regime was behind the attacks, despite its denials. Cameron's Downing Street office had even released documents showing legal grounds for the UK to launch a targeted strike on Syria even if Russia and China oppose such a move in the United Nations Security Council.

But the Labour Party had already made it clear that it would vote against armed action no matter what justification the government provided, and the vote in Parliament was thus on expected lines.

The United States has also toned down its earlier war-like rhetoric, after earlier moving armed forces to within striking distance of Syria.

Cameron's non-binding motion was defeated 285-272 and he conceded after the vote that "the British Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action".

The prime minister said in terse comments while he believes in a "tough response" to the use of chemical weapons, he would respect the will of the House of Commons.