US President Trump dials back on Syria attack rhetoric

Prime Minister Theresa May prepared to convene a special cabinet meeting to weigh whether Britain should join the United States and France in a possible military action

President Donald Trump cast doubt on Thursday over the timing of his threatened strike on Syria in response to a reported poison gas attack, while France said it had proof of Syria's guilt but needed to gather more information.

Fears of confrontation between Russia and the West have been running high since Trump said on Wednesday that missiles "will be coming" after the suspected chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7, and lambasted Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not