Kerry Says Arab Ministers Agree Syria Chemical Attack Crossed 'Global Red Line'
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that Arab League ministers had agreed at talks in Paris that Syria crossed a "global red line" in its alleged chemical weapons attack, defending the publication of graphic videos showing victims of the reported assault that has catalyzed an American push for military strikes.
Kerry said a number of Arab countries were willing to sign a statement agreed by 12 countries of the G20 that called for a reaction to the alleged attack, and that they would make announcements in the next 24 hours.
"All of us agree, not one dissenter, that Assad's deplorable use of chemical weapons... crosses an international global red line," Kerry told journalists after the talks.
"Today we discussed the possible and necessary measures that can be taken," he said.
"A number of countries immediately signed on to the G20 agreement," Kerry said, naming Saudi Arabia as among them.
"I am not going to name the other countries simply because we agreed in the meeting they would go back and make their own announcements, which they will do within the next 24 hours," Kerry said.
"Everybody understood that the decisions need to be made within the next 24 hours."
Kerry met with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, who he said had made clear his country's support for military action.
"They have supported the strike and they have supported taking action," Kerry said.
Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah said the alleged attacks on August 21 saw the regime of Bashar Assad move from conventional warfare to "weapons of mass destruction."
"If the international community really wants to protect international peace and security, it cannot afford to stand still while unarmed people are being attacked with these weapons," he said.
"We in Qatar support the statement of the 12 out of the G20," Attiyah said. "We call on other countries to intervene to protect the Syrian people from what they are being subjected to."
Asked about whether Qatar would directly contribute to military action in Syria, he said: "Qatar is currently studying with its friends and the United Nations what it could provide in order to protect the Syrian people."
Sunday's talks brought together officials from the Arab League, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, the Palestinians, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Kerry also defended the publication of graphic videos showing victims of the alleged chemical attack.
The videos, posted online Saturday by a U.S. congressional panel, show men and children writhing in pain, apparently foaming at the mouth and vomiting.
Purportedly taken in the aftermath of the August 21 attack outside the Syrian capital, the footage also aired on U.S. broadcaster CNN and has been condemned as too graphic by critics.
But Kerry said it was important American lawmakers know "what is at stake" as they debate whether to authorize punitive strikes on Assad's regime.
"The vast majority of members of Congress, House and Senate, are undecided and that's why the videos are being shown and the briefings are taking place," Kerry said during a visit to Paris.
"To make sure everybody understands what is at stake," he said. "Those videos make it clear that this is not something abstract... Those videos make it clear to people that these are real human beings, real children, parents being affected in ways that are unacceptable," he said.
"That is why this is important for people to see."
The 13 videos were shown to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, according to the panel's website.
It said the footage was taken from pro-opposition content posted on YouTube, and carried a warning saying that "viewer discretion is advised."
Kerry is in Europe trying to secure backing from Washington's divided allies for military strikes on Syria.
The U.S. Congress returns from its summer break on Monday to consider President Barack Obama's plans for strikes and U.N. inspectors are to release a report into the alleged chemical weapons attack by the weekend.
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