French President Francois Hollande, right, speaks with Russia＇s President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with G20 leaders in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sept. 6, 2013.
World leaders gathering in Russia for the final day of the G20 summit remain divided over possible U.S. military strikes in Syria.
Diplomats say a late night dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to resolve differences on how to end the Syrian conflict.
U.S. President Barack Obama is trying to win international support for military action to punish Syria＇s government for an alleged chemical weapons attack last month.
Obama met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who opposes the strikes. China, along with Syria＇s main ally, Russia, have voted down Security Council resolutions that would have pressured the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia says there is no evidence Assad carried out the August attack on a rebel-held Damascus suburb, where hundreds died.
Meanwhile, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday warned world leaders against what he called "ill-considered" military strikes he said could worsen sectarian tensions in Syria.
Ban made his comments at a humanitarian meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Warning against "further militarization of the conflict," Ban said military strikes could have "tragic consequences" and lead to further sectarian violence.
President Obama will hold a news conference Friday before flying back to Washington, where he is also seeking to convince U.S. lawmakers to authorize Syria military action. A key U.S. Senate panel approved the plan Wednesday. But it now faces a tough vote in both houses of Congress, likely next week. |
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