EU Wants "Strong Response" to Syrian Chemical Weapons use

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The European Union called for a "clear and strong response" to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying there was "strong evidence" that President Bashar al-Assad's regime was behind the August 21 attack. The statement, issued after US Secretary of State John Kerry met EU foreign ministers in Lithuania Saturday, marked a clear shift toward support for a US-led intervention in Syria, although they did not explicitly back military action, reported DPA. "Information from a wide variety of sources confirms the existence of such an attack and seems to indicate strong evidence that the Syrian regime is responsible for this attack," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said. Kerry praised the bloc's "strong statement about the need for accountability."