[00:47.75]The leader of the Republicans in the US House of Representatives John Boehner has said he supports Barack Obama's call for military intervention in Syria,
[00:55.70]a significant boost for the president.
[00:57.79]The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that if it is proved that chemical weapons were used in Syria
[01:03.61]the Security Council has an obligation to act but he added that the use of force would only be legal with UN approval.
[01:10.11]Nick Bryant reports.
[01:11.38]While the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stop short of using the word illegal to describe any possible military action by America against Syria.
[01:19.79]He said the use of force would only be lawful in self-defense or it backed by the Security Council.
[01:25.67]If confirmed the use of chemical weapons would mark a serious violation of international law, he said but a military response could unleash more turmoil.
[01:35.06]“I take no to the argument for action to prevent a future uses of chemical weapons.
[01:41.15]At the same time, we must consider the impact of any punitive measure on efforts to prevent further bloodshed.”
[01:51.37]The Secretary General said that the weapons inspectors who left Syria over the weekend were trying to expedite the process of testing their samples to find out if chemical weapons have been used.