Indian PM says at G20 that action on Syria should be under UN framework

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that whatever action is required in Syria should be under the UN framework, amid growing pressure on US President Barack Obama from his Russian counterpart and other world leaders not to attack the Arab country.

The Syrian issue dominated a long dinner meeting of G20 leaders including Obama last night hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of the first day’s deliberations during which Singh made an intervention.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that it was also the prime minister’s view that the world community should wait for the report of the UN inspectors on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The prime minister also told his fellow G20 leaders that India condemns the use of chemical weapons whether in Syria or anywhere in the world, Ahluwalia, who was present at the dinner meeting, told reporters here. Singh also told the leaders that one needs to be certain what has happened in Syria even if there is some probability of use of chemical weapons.