Syria: MPs Recalled As Britain Mulls Options

Britain's Armed Forces are drawing up contingency plans for military action in Syria following the chemical weapons attack that left hundreds dead.

David Cameron came back from his holiday in Cornwall early to chair talks with Cabinet ministers in Downing Street.

A national security council meeting will be held on Wednesday to discuss possible UK involvement and MPs will now return to Parliament on Thursday for a debate.

Mr Cameron himself confirmed the recall on Twitter and said there would be a "clear Govt motion & vote on UK response to chemical weapons attacks".

Peers will also return to Parliament, according to the Labour whips' office.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who sent a letter signed by 81 Conservatives to Mr Cameron demanding a vote earlier this year, said: "The House is going to seek assurance on the grounds for action, that there is compelling evidence it is the Assad regime that launched the chemical attacks - that will need to be proved and explained.

William Hague and Philip Hammond in Downing Street on Tuesday

"We will need the aims of any action and limits and scope of action, and information on who else will be involved."

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell added: "There are reservations about the prospect of military action on all sides of the House of Commons and genuine concern about the long-term consequences of any such action.

"Now there is to be a motion, the Prime Minister will have to make a convincing case if he is to persuade not only his own backbenchers but the House as well."

The recall came as the US defence secretary declared America is "ready to go" if Barack Obama orders intervention.

British officials said the Government was looking at a "range of evidence" about the atrocity in Damascus, which campaigners say killed 355 people.

They indicated an international agreement about the next steps could be taken before UN weapons inspectors produce a report on the attack.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has not ruled out moves such as targeted air strikes and activity at British military bases in Cyprus suggest plans could already be well advanced.

Mr Cameron has been speaking to international leaders including US president Barack Obama and Russian president Vladimir Putin in recent days.

A heavily-damaged street in Deir Ezzor, Syria

Downing Street said he had made clear that any use of chemical weapons is "completely and utterly abhorrent and unacceptable".

Talks to find a "proportionate" response that will deter the Syrian state from using toxic agents are now likely to intensify despite the Assad regime's denials.

The administration has denied "utterly and completely" that state forces were behind the atrocity and has warned military action would be illegal and doomed to fail.

Moscow - a key regime ally which supplies arms to Syria - has backed Syrian claims that video footage of victims could be opposition propaganda.

It insists there is "no evidence" of a chemical attack, but Mr Cameron told Mr Putin there was "little doubt" the regime had used the weapons.

The US has also declared there was an "undeniable" use of banned nerve agents by the Syrian government against an opposition-held suburb in Damascus.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said the attack was a "moral obscenity" which "should shock the conscience of the world" and promised action to hold the regime accountable.

Intervention on any level would spark fears about mission creep but Downing Street has made clear all options are still on the table.

A spokesman said: "No decision has yet been taken. We are continuing to discuss with our international partners what the right response should be, but, as part of this, we are making contingency plans for the armed forces."

Former prime minister Tony Blair has backed a military strike, warning inaction could lead to Syria becoming "mired in carnage" and a "breeding ground for terrorists".

He said he understood why people "wince at the thought of intervention" but urged Britain to "take sides" to avoid a nightmare scenario developing in the Middle East.

Thursday's recall will be the fourth time Mr Cameron has interrupted MPs' holidays.

MPs came back in April after the death of Baroness Thatcher, and twice in 2011 - for a statement on phone hacking in July and then the August riots.

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