Britain makes tactical retreat over Syria

Britain has taken a step back over military action in Syria after the country's Opposition secured a promise of a second parliamentary vote over the divisive issue.
Prime Minister David Cameron had summoned MPs to return early from their summer break in order to vote in the House of Commons for British involvement in possible military strikes against Syria within days.
Cameron was forced to make a tactical retreat on the issue as a result of pressure from Labour party leader Ed Miliband, whose party has demanded six concessions for supporting the government over Syria.
The demands of the Labour party include a UN Security Council vote on the inspectors' report; a further report to the Commons and a second vote before Britain takes part in any military action; "compelling evidence" that the Assad regime was responsible for last week's attack; and a "clear basis in international law" for intervention.

"I'm clear that this is a very grave decision to take military action that the House of Commons would be making and I didn't think that that decision should be made on an artificial timetable when the House of Commons wouldn't even have seen the evidence today from the UN weapons inspectors. I'm determined to learn the lessons of the past, including Iraq," Miliband said.
UK foreign secretary William Hague said there would be "further discussions in New York over the coming days" but added: "We are clear that if there isn't agreement at the UN, then we still have a responsibility. It's very important not to take so long to respond that people confuse what the eventual response is about".

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, said he is "wrestling" with the decision of whether to support military action.

"These are no easy choices to make and there is no risk-free choice to make," he said.
Cameron had spoken to US President Barack Obama on the situation in Syria before making a case to parliament for targeted military action to halt the alleged use of chemical weapons.
Ahead of today's parliamentary vote, MPs will be given a dossier of evidence by Downing Street that Whitehall sources have described as "utterly compelling" proof of Assad's involvement in chemical atrocities against his own people.

They will be asked to support the government's motion which states that a "strong humanitarian response" is required from the international community.
United Nations inspectors are in Syria, investigating last week's alleged chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus, in which hundreds of civilians were killed.
Meanwhile, the UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed it was taking the "precautionary measure" of flying in six Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets to its base in Cyprus.