Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the Mediterranean as Western powers prepare for possible strikes against Syria.

The news comes as Britain deployed six RAF Typhoon jets to its Akrotiri base in Cyprus in a move to protect British interests as tensions grow over Syria.

Russia, who has stood staunchly behind the Syrian regime during its two-year civil war, has warned Western powers over strikes against Bashar al-Assad's forces for the use of chemical weapons.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a source in the armed forces' general staff as saying the warships would arrive in the coming days because of the "well-known situation" - a clear reference to the conflict in Syria.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/russia-sends-in-warships-as-syria-tensions-escalate/4923506

UN weapons inspectors have been ordered to leave Syria early amid mounting anticipation of US-led military strikes.

As the five permanent members of the security council held a second emergency meeting on Syria in two days on Thursday evening, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, instructed the 20-strong inspection team in Damascus to leave on Saturday, a day ahead of schedule. Ban also announced that the team would report to him immediately on departure, raising the possibility that the UN could issue an interim report on the 21 August chemical attacks that left hundreds of people dead.

The inspectors had not been due to deliver their findings for a week at least, with the analysis of samples a painstaking task. The demand for a rushed early assessment reflects the fraught atmosphere at the UN triggered by US threats to launch punitive air strikes within days.

In Washington US intelligence officials were on Thursday seeking to persuade congressman of the evidence that the Syrian government was responsible for chemical weapons attacks, as the Obama administrationresisted comparisons with the run-up to the Iraq war.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/29/un-inspectors-syria-strikes

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The intelligence has already made its mind up... actually the US president has already requested that the intelligence be like that of iraq: flawed. Guilty without proof or guilty by being framed for the deed... It's now clear as black pudding: the US, once more is addicted to war — on behalf of its master: Saudi Arabia and its multitude of extremist organisations...

Except this time the Russians (and the Chinese) may not let the American deception happen... or the house of Commons:

The prospects of British involvement in military action in Syria receded dramatically tonight when David Cameron suffered a humiliating Commons defeat on the issue.

Even though the Prime Minister conceded a second final vote before British forces took part in military strikes, a rebellion by Conservatives and strong opposition by Labour saw a government motion defeated by 285 votes to 272. The defeat was a huge surprise and leaves Mr Cameron's strategy in disarray. He now looks unable to deliver British support to American-led strikes he wants to give.

The rejected government motion said the response to last week's chemical weapons attack on civilians near Damascus “may, if necessary, require military action”.  But several Tories who supported the Government warned they could oppose it in the crucial vote on British participation expected next week. The Commons rejected by 332 votes to 220 a Labour amendment calling for “compelling evidence” the Assad regime was responsible for the attack before UK involvement.

Vladimir Putin has rejected US intelligence claims that Bashar al-Assad's regime used chemical weapons in Syria, saying it would be "utter nonsense" for government troops to use such tactics in a war it was already winning.

"That is why I am convinced that [the chemical attack] is nothing more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict, and who want to win the support of powerful members of the international arena, especially the United States," Putin told journalists in Vladivostok.

The Russian president also challenged the US to present its case for military intervention to the UN security council, after suggesting that if Barack Obama was worthy of his Nobel peace prize, he should think about the possible victims of any intervention by foreign forces.

UN experts left Syria on Saturday after investigating the gas attack, which killed hundreds of civilians, while the US said it was planning a limited response to punish Syria's President Bashar al-Assad for the "brutal and flagrant" assault.

Barack Obama said the US, which has destroyers equipped with cruise missiles in the region, was planning a "limited, narrow" response that would not involve boots on the ground or be open-ended.

Russia responded by saying US threats to use military force against Syria were unacceptable and that Washington would be violating international law if it acted without the approval of the UN security council.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/31/syria-un-weapons-inspectors-leave