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". The main findings of the unclassified US evidence state that: 
 
 the attack killed 1,429 people, including 426 children 
 
 Syrian military chemical weapons personnel were operating in the area in the three days before the attack 
 
 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 
 
 Communications were intercepted involving a senior Damascus official who "confirmed chemical weapons were used" and was concerned about UN inspectors obtaining evidence 
 
 '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". "The aim of the game here, the mandate, is very clear -- and that is to ascertain whether chemical weapons were used -- and not by whom," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters on Saturday. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Barack Obama: "We're not considering any boots on the ground approach" 
 
 Mr Putin also expressed surprise at a vote in the British parliament on Thursday ruling out participation in military action. 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. Mr Obama said on Friday the US was planning a "limited, narrow" military response that would not involve "boots on the ground". At the scene 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. US President Barack Obama says he is considering military action against Syria after intelligence reports that 1,429 people were killed on 21 August.
– John Kerry says he has "high confidence" in US intelligence reports that Syria used chemical weapons. Vladimir Putin has two much different words on the subject: "utter nonsense." The Russian leader used the phrase in urging the US to hold off on any military action until the UN has completed its investigation, reports the BBC. The clock is ticking on that: UN inspectors left Syria today and will brief Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, but their full report to the Security Council might take a week or so to complete, reports CNN. Kerry and Obama have suggested that the US won't wait that long, in part because the UN inspectors are charged only with determining whether chemical weapons were used, not who employed them. The US says it already is sure that Bashar al-Assad is the culprit. Putin, though, told reporters that it would have been foolish for Assad to order the Aug. 21 attack because his troops have the upper hand in the war. "In these conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for a military intervention is utter nonsense."