(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The U.S. Senate delayed a test vote Monday on authorizing a limited military strike on Syria, amid signs of a possible breakthrough in international diplomacy to seek a political solution.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would not rush the vote scheduled for Wednesday to end the debate, citing that "international discussions" are continuing for a peaceful settlement of the crisis caused by the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government last month. "I've spoken to the Republican leader.
I've talked to virtually all my Democratic senators and we have enough votes to get cloture," Reid said, insisting he did not delay the vote because of rising opposition to the use of force from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
But he admitted the delay could give senators more time to weigh the arguments favoring a military strike and would give President Barack Obama an opportunity to speak to all senators and the whole nation.
"I don't think we need to see how fast we can do this.
We have to see how well we can do this matter," Reid said.
Obama announced in August that he would seek congressional authorization to take military action on the Syrian government to punish its chemical attack on Aug. 21, and the Senate is expected to hold a debate, or possibly a vote on this within this week.
The Senate move came after the Obama administration welcomed a proposal put forward earlier Monday by Russia for Syria to surrender its stockpiles of chemical weapons to international control.
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