Exclusive: Syria vows all “possible but legitimate response” to U.S. attack

The Syrian government on Thursday,
again denied using chemical weapons on
its people, and vowed a tough response
to any aggression by the United States,
which accuses the Bashar al-Assad
government of gassing more than 1,000
of its citizens to death.
The Syrian ambassador to Nigeria, Shafik
Daiyob, repeated his government’s claim
that it has never used chemical weapons
against Syrians and will never do so even
“if it had them.”
Speaking exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES
in Abuja, Mr. Daiyob said the Syrian
government still believed the United
States will listen to the “voice of reason”
and refrain from any military intervention.
The U.S. Congress is to vote next week on
whether to authorize military action
against Syria.
Mr. Daiyob however warned that in the
event of any aggression, the country will
defend itself with all “possible but
legitimate means” available.
“I hope the voice of wisdom will prevail on
American lawmakers. I hope they respond
to the demands of their people,” Mr.
Daiyob said.
“But in the case of aggression against
Syria, I want to reiterate that Syria will
defend itself with possible means. That is
a legitimate right according to
international law and the United Nations
charter.”
The diplomat warned that external
aggression on Syria will exacerbate
conflict in the region and had the
potential of inflaming the world. He
accused the Western nations of conspiring
against Syria on a trumped charge of
alleged chemical weapon use.
“What is happening in Syria is not a
coincidence, it is the result of a
conspiracy between the Americans and
their allies,” he said.
He said the evidence put forward by the
United States have failed to convince even
Americans, and their allies, much less, the
rest of the world.
The remarks came as leaders of the
world’s biggest 20 economies, meeting in
Russia, were locked in a divisive debate
over Syria.
Opening the summit, the host, Russian
President Vladimir Putin, confirmed Syria
would be discussed at the working dinner,
despite not being on the agenda.
U.S. President Barack Obama has already
talked to Japan’s leader about Syria, and
is pushing for support for military strikes
against the Damascus regime, the BBC
reported.
Russia and China have warned the U.S.
not to take action without UN backing.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Putin told the
leaders, gathered in St Petersburg, that
some participants had asked for time to
discuss “very acute topics of international
politics, in particular the situation around
Syria”.
The U.S accuses the Syrian government
of using chemical weapons on 21 August
on the outskirts of Damascus. It said the
attack killed 1,429 people and has
released an intelligence assessment
blaming the Syrian government.
German and U.S. media published further
analysis on Thursday, both claiming that
the gas used in the attack was more
potent than expected, and that Syrian
forces may have got the mix wrong.
Also, on Thursday, U.K. Prime Minister
David Cameron said British scientists
have uncovered further evidence linking
the Damascus attack to the use of
chemical weapons.
The Syrian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.
Daiyob, questioned the logic of his
government launching chemical attacks
when United Nations investigators were
already in Syria at the time.
He said Mr. Assad could not step down as
demanded by the opposition, as a
precondition for peace talks to ending the
30 month old war, because he was duly
elected by Syrians and his stay in office
was left for Syrians to decide.
“If the Syrian people want him to stay for
as long as, that is their decision,” he said