Lawmakers To Be Briefed On Evidence Against Syria [VIDEO]

A U.S. intelligence report that outlines the evidence against Syria says some questions remain about Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons last week.

According to intelligence officials, the report acknowledges that there's no proof of who actually controls some of Syria's chemical weapons. And it says there are doubts about whether Bashar Assad himself ordered the attack.

Still, a senior U.S. official who has read the report says it assesses with "high confidence" that the regime was responsible for firing a barrage of rockets filled with a chemical weapon that hit suburbs east and west of Damascus last week.

President Barack Obama's national security adviser and his intelligence chief are among those who'll brief lawmakers tonight by teleconference, to help make the case for U.S. action against Syria.

Some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are pushing Obama to explain why the U.S. should attack Syria and involve Americans in the country's deadly civil conflict.

Russia calls urgent UN council meeting on Syria

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A U.N. diplomat says Russia has called for an urgent meeting of the five permanent Security Council members on the crisis in Syria.

The meeting among Russia, the United States, China, Britain and France was expected later Thursday, according to the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

Poll: Most Germans oppose Syria military strike

BERLIN (AP) — A poll finds that a majority of Germans oppose Western military intervention in Syria and don't want their country to provide backing for any U.S.-led strike.

Thursday's poll for ZDF television found that 58 percent oppose intervention following last week's suspected poison gas attacks, with 33 percent in favor and 9 percent undecided.

It says 41 percent believe Germany should support financially or materially U.S.-led military action, with 55 percent opposed. The Forschungsgruppe Wahlen polling group surveyed 1,348 people Monday through Wednesday and gives a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Germans are generally wary of military action and Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is treading carefully ahead of Sept. 22 elections.

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