Moscow evacuates nationals; Iran dismisses ‘ridiculous’ reports of Assad in Tehran; UN inspectors return to site of alleged chemical attack (The Times Of Israel)
The Saudi Arabian Army is now on full alert after the US-led West increased the level of its threats and said it would launch a strike on Syria in the next few days. (Fars News)
Russia: UN response to alleged attack still premature; Jordan says no Syria strike from its soil. (Haaretz)
United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi says any military action against Syria in response to apparent chemical attacks must be taken after a decision by the United Nations Security Council. "What they [American administration] will decide I don't know, but certainly international law is very clear," he adds. (Reuters)
US Vice President Joe Biden says there "is no doubt that Syria's government was responsible for a recent chemical attack in Damascus". (Al Jazeera)
British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron says the UK's National Security Council has agreed that the "world should not stand by" after the "unacceptable use" of chemical weapons by the Syrian government. However, a full report from the U.N. investigation on the chemical attack is expected before taking any measure. (BBC)
Syria's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday that the United States, Britain and France helped "terrorists" use chemical weapons in Syria, and that the same groups would soon use them against Europe. (Reuters)
Syrians in the capital Damascus are racing against time to prepare for a foreign strike, with many hoarding supplies and others scrambling to find accommodation further away from potential military targets. (Reuters)
The Russian and Chinese officials walked out of the U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday, August 28, after U.S. Permanent Representative Samantha Power had called for an immediate action in Syria. (Itar Tass)
Downing Street earlier published the UK government's motion on Syria, which proposed waiting for a UN Security Council decision before MPs vote on any military action. (BBC)
UN chemical weapons inspectors have resumed their investigations in Syria(BBC)
At least 51 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a series of bombings and attacks in and around Baghdad. (Sky News)
Law and crime
Former U.S. Army Major and psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan is sentenced to death for the November 5, 2009 Fort Hood massacre that killed 13 and wounded 32 others. He will be granted an automatic appeal; the Army general (convening authority) who will review the case can grant him life without parole; any eventual (and rare) military execution would need presidential approval. (CNN)
