International reaction remains divided over proposed US strike

Arab League
While the 22-member body recently urged international action against Syria, it has stopped short of explicitly endorsing a Western strike against Syria, although some of its most influential members like Saudi Arabia have.

In an emergency meeting Sept. 1, the body urged the United Nations and the international community to take "deterrent" measures under international law to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime from carrying out chemical weapons attacks against the Syrian people.

Britain
Blocked by his own parliament from taking military action against Syria, British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sept. 4 urged the United States to act or risk further chemical-weapons attacks.

President Barack Obama "set a very clear red line that if there was large-scale chemical weapons use something had to happen," Cameron told lawmakers in the House of Commons.

"Now we know that the regime used chemical weapons on at least 14 previous occasions," he added.

China
China's Foreign Ministry has on multiple occasions called for Western powers to restrain from the use of force and opt for a "political solution."

On Sept. 4, Beijing reiterated its position, ahead of the G-20 summit.

"We are seriously concerned about possible unilateral military actions taken by relevant countries," state news agency Xinhua said, quoting Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei's daily press statement.

It would likely veto any U.N. Security Council resolution sanctioning a Western strike against Syria.

The Elders
Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General and chair of The Elders, a group of independent, eminent leaders promoting human rights and justice, said in a Sept. 4 statement that while the Elders are "appalled by the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria," U.N. member states should await a report from U.N. weapons inspectors before considering a response.

"There is no military solution to this conflict," Annan said, echoing China's call for a re-energized political process "to put an end to the conflict that has devastated and brutalized Syria."

France
French President Francois Hollande has stood in firm support of U.S. action in Syria, and has said he is willing to participate in an armed effort.

Hollande's Socialists, who enjoy a majority in the National Assembly, are largely supportive of U.S. strikes. But other leading parliamentary factions voiced opposition, including the main opposition right-wing Union for Popular Movement, known by its French acronym, UMP.

The UMP said it would not support military action without the backing of the United Nations or a broad international coalition.

Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sept. 3 that "there can be no doubt" that chemical weapons have been used in Syria in violation of international law before action is taken against Damascus.

Ahead of the G-20 summit of global economic powers, Germany is pushing for action by the long-deadlocked U.N. Security Council.

"But the German Foreign Minister and I together must notice, that the U.N. Security Council is blocked again and again when we must deal with the conflict in Syria -- blocked particularly by the very hard position of Russia and China," Merkel said in a speech to parliament.

Iran
Syria is Iran's sole regional ally, and remains explicitly against any outside intervention.

Iranian leaders have pledged retaliation against Israel in the event of U.S. military action against Damascus.

Western governments complain that Tehran is supporting Assad with arms, cash and Revolutionary Guardsmen to train militia to help win the civil war.

Russia
In an interview with state-run Channel 1 television ahead of the G-20 summit in Saint Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would not rule out action against Damascus if the West presented "convincing" evidence of chemical weapons crimes.

But in later comments at a Kremlin meeting with his human rights council, Putin warned that Congress would be facilitating an act of "aggression" if it approved Obama's proposed military action.

Russia would likely veto any U.N. Security Council resolution sanctioning a Western strike against Syria.

Pope Francis
On Sept. 5, Pope Francis, in a letter addressed to Putin, the host of the G-20 summit, said that the leaders present at the gathering should look for a way to overcome the conflict in Syria and "lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution." Instead, he urged "a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community."

Al Jazeera and wire services