Syria parliament urges US congress to block strike

The head of Syria's parliament urged the US Congress to vote against military action targeting Syria. "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," the state news agency 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 authorization to use military force against Syria. "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 authorized by the (UN) Security Council," Lahham said.