Syria - Rochdale MEP backs airstrikes

Rochdale MEP Chris Davies

A Rochdale MEP has declared his backing for the proposed highly controversial UK participation in US-led actions against Syria's President Bashar Assad.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said: "Many countries may secretly possess chemical weapons but their use is outlawed by the UN's Chemical Weapons Convention.

"Assad has crossed a red line by using them against his own people in Syria to horrible and murderous effect. If no action is taken against him then regimes elsewhere will feel at liberty to follow his example.

"International law must not only be respected it must also be enforced. Someone has to do this.

"Even the limited use of airstrikes against military targets gives rise to risks and dangers, but if we do nothing the consequences could be very much worse."

Davies has called for clear objectives to be set for military action to prevent the UK from being caught up in another Iraq conflict.

He said: “The aim should be to remove the ability of the Assad regime to use its chemical weapon stockpiles by degrading its military capability and air power.

"Injury to civilians in Damascus or elsewhere must be avoided

"Bashar Assad should be told in clear terms what he must do if the actions against his regime are to cease."