Syrians stock up as US plans air strikes

People in Damascus stocked up on supplies last night and some left homes close to potential targets as US officials sketched out plans for multi-national air strikes on Syria that could last for days.

UN chemical weapons experts completed a second field trip to rebel-held suburbs, looking for evidence of what — and who — caused an apparent poison gas attack that residents say killed hundreds of people a week ago.

But as UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed for unity among world powers and sought more time for the inspectors to complete their work, Washington and its European and Middle East allies said their minds were made up and that President Bashar al-Assad must face retribution for using banned weapons against his people.