Shops in Syria's capital are filled with people stocking up on bread, canned food and other necessities ahead of what are expected to be U.S. military strikes. But there appear to be no signs of panic or food shortages.

U.N. inspectors, meanwhile, have been at work again in the areas targeted by last week's alleged chemical weapons attack. The U.N. said yesterday that the inspectors would wrap up their investigation today and leave Syria for the Netherlands tomorrow.

More consultations coming

Iron Dome missile battery seen in industrial area of Haifa
Iron Dome missile battery seen in industrial area of Haifa, Israel ( Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says high-level Obama administration officials will continue to consult with members of Congress on how the U.S. should respond to last week's alleged chemical attack on Syrian civilians.

But Hagel says the consultations are "not to convince anyone of anything."

British Prime Minister David Cameron says he'll honor Parliament's decision to not get involved militarily with Syria, but French President Francois Hollande (frahn-SWAH' oh-LAWND') says his country is still preparing for a possible strike.

Advisers say President Barack Obama would be willing to retaliate against Syria on his own.

Russia has no access to US intelligence on Syria

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian president's foreign policy advisor says Russia has not seen the U.S. intelligence that Washington claims proves the role of the Syrian government in last week's alleged chemical weapons attack.

The Obama administration shared intelligence with U.S. lawmakers on Thursday aimed at convincing them the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its people in the Aug. 21 attack and must be punished. Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Friday he cannot comment on the intelligence because the U.S. has not shared it with Russia.

Russia has insisted there is no evidence the government is behind the attack. Russia and China have said that they would block any U.N. resolution that authorizes force, but the U.S. has signaled it would act even without its backing.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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