Obama decides US 'should take military action against Syrian targets'

US President Barack Obama says the US will take miliary action against Syria.

President Obama said: "I have decided the United States should take military action against Syrian military targets."

In his televised statement on the crisis in Syria, President Obama said he will be seeking authorization from Congress for action against Syria.

He says congressional leadership plans to hold a debate and a vote as soon as Congress comes back in September.

Mr Obama says he has the authority to act on his own, but believes it is important for the country to have a debate.

The US President claims last week's alleged chemical attack in Damascus was "an assault on human dignity".

Yesterday, America revealed intelligence reports that claimed the Asaad regime killed 1,400 of its own citizens with poisonous gas.

In relation to when the strike may take place Obama said: "It will be effective tomorrow or next week or one month from now, and I'm prepared to give that order."

Meanwhile, United Nations weapons inspectors have only just finished gathering their evidence on what happened in Syria, and the UN says it could take two weeks before its inspectors are able to report their findings.