U.N. weapons inspectors arrive in Damascus to investigate claims that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his citizens. (Photo Credit: Al-Jazeera)
U.N. weapons inspectors arrive in Damascus to investigate claims that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on his citizens. (Photo Credit: Al-Jazeera)

AllAfrica.com is reporting that South Africa’s Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim believes that the United States should wait until U.N. weapons have concluded their report before deciding on military intervention. Jonisayi Maromo writes:

“A military intervention in the strife-torn nation would only aggravate the humanitarian situation, Ebrahim told reporters in Pretoria.

‘The way forward is not to start bombing Syria, because [by doing that] you are not solving the problem but actually increasing it,’ he said.

“That would be extending the problem to the whole region. If you bomb Syria, you don’t know how other parties are going to react, the Hezbollah etc. We should work for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.”

Asked what South Africa’s stance would be, if evidence proved that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons, Ebrahim said the intensity of retribution should be decided by the UN.

‘It [the punishment] has to be done in accordance with international law and it has to be approved by the UN Security Council. You have got to get the authorisation of the security council, that is a fundamental principle of international law.'”

Read more at AllAfrica.com.

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