Brahimi condemns military action against Syria without UNSC approval

Iran Press TV

Fri Sep 6, 2013 2:17PM GMT

UN-Arab League Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has warned that any US military action against Syria would be illegal without UN Security Council authorization.

Brahimi said on Friday that no country has the right to "take the law into their hands" and take military action against Syria without the UNSC approval.

He added that a US-led military action would scuttle the chances of reaching a political solution to the 30-month conflict.

"International law says that no country is allowed to take the law into their hands, they have to go through the Security Council," Brahimi told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had warned against the grave consequences of a looming US-led strike against Syria, stressing that further militarization of the conflict must be avoided.

The UN chief also said that any decision on Syria must be taken within the framework of the UN Charter.

US President Barack Obama is using the summit meeting to push for his strike plan against Syria, despite strong opposition from China, Russia and many other countries.

Washington’s war rhetoric against Syria intensified after militants operating in the country claimed the Syrian army had carried out a deadly chemical attack on the suburbs of Damascus on August 21, which killed hundreds of Syrians.

Damascus has repeatedly said the deadly attack was a false-flag operation carried out by the Takfiri groups in a bid to draw in foreign military intervention.

HM/KA/SS