Syria parliament urges US Congress to block strikes

Syrian MPs hold parliamentary session in Damascus, on May 24, 2012 The head of Syria\'s parliament has urged the US Congress to vote against military action targeting the Syrian regime, state news agency SANA said on Friday .
\"We urge you not to take reckless measures as you have the power to steer the United States from the path of war to that of diplomacy,\" SANA quoted parliament chief Jihad al-Lahham as saying.
The message is intended to be sent to every member of the US Congress before they vote on a request from US President Barack Obama for authorisation to use military force against Syria.
Obama has proposed limited strikes in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on August 21, which Washington says was carried out by the Syrian regime, a charge it denies.
\"Any military intervention would be illegal because Syria is a sovereign country and does not represent a threat to the United States, and any strike would not be authorised by the (UN) Security Council,\" Lahham said.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad urged the US Congress to \"show wisdom\" on the issue of authorising military strikes against Syria.
President Bashar al-Assad has also warned of the consequences of any such action.
\"We cannot only talk about a Syrian response, but what could happen after the first strike,\" Assad said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper.
\"Everyone will lose control of the situation once the powder keg explodes. Chaos and extremism will spread. There is a risk of regional war.\"
Source: AFP