UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is warning that any “punitive” action taken against Syria for an alleged chemical weapons attack last week could unleash more turmoil and bloodshed in that nation’s civil war.
Ban also cautioned nations such as the United States and France that may be considering such strikes that they are legal only in self-defense under the U.N. Charter or if approved by the U.N. Security Council.
Russia and China have used their veto power in the council multiple times to keep it from taking action against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
President Barack Obama received key support from leaders in Congress on Tuesday for a potential strike.
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