Russia's Vladimir Putin challenges US on Syria claims 31 August 2013 Last updated at 16:41 Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus. Mr Putin said it would be "utter nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks. US President Barack Obama says he is considering military action against Syria after intelligence reports that 1,429 people were killed on 21 August. UN weapons inspectors have now left Syria and arrived in the Netherlands. They are taking the evidence they gathered during four days of site visits to the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, in The Hague. The samples are thought to include soil, swabs from munitions, blood and hair from the victims and, experts say, possibly even flesh from dead bodies. The US says hundreds of children were among those killed in the suspected chemical weapons attacks, which it blames on the Syrian government. Syria says the US claim is "full of lies" and says rebels carried out the attacks. US President Barack Obama said on Friday the US was planning a "limited, narrow" military response that would not involve "boots on the ground." Continue reading the main story 'Trump card' The inspectors' departure from Syria removes both a practical and a political obstacle to the launch of US-led military action, correspondents say. There are those in Syria who will cheer on the US action and those who will be quite worried by it, but I think everyone is making some preparation. People are trying to buy what they can, stockpile things, get water, bread, food that lasts, because they don't know what's going to happen. They don't know what President Obama means by a limited attack and what consequences that may have for their lives and the degree to which it would stay limited. The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says people are worried and are making preparations. They do not know what Mr Obama means by a limited attack and what consequences it will have, he adds. Speaking to journalists in the Russian far-eastern city of Vladivostok, Mr Putin urged Mr Obama - as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate - to think about future victims in Syria before using force. He said it was ridiculous to suggest the Syrian government was to blame for the attack, calling it a "provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict." "Syrian government troops are on the offensive and have surrounded the opposition in several regions," he said. In these conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for a military intervention is utter nonsense. He said that the US failure to present evidence to the international community was "simply disrespectful." If there is evidence it should be shown. If it is not shown, then there isn't any," he said. The main findings of the unclassified US evidence state that: Satellite evidence shows rockets launched from government-held areas 90 minutes before the first report of chemical attack 100 videos attributed to the attack show symptoms consistent with exposure to a nerve agent Completely unexpected Russia - a key ally of Syria - has previously warned that "any unilateral military action bypassing the UN Security Council" would be a "direct violation of international law." Mr Putin also expressed surprise at a vote in the British parliament on Thursday ruling out participation in military action. "I will be honest: this was completely unexpected for me," he said. This shows that in Great Britain, even if it is the USA's main geopolitical ally in the world... there are people who are guided by national interests and common sense, and value their sovereignty. Meanwhile in France - seen as the main US ally since the UK vote - an opinion poll suggested that 64% opposed the use of force. French Rafale and Mirage aircraft can also operate from Al-Dhahra airbase in the UAE