Intelligence Report: Bashar Assad

Bashar Assad: PARIS - France released an intelligence report on Monday alleging chemical weapons use by Syria's regime that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread "chaos and extremism." , according to Winnipeg Free Press. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Assad was quoted as saying that Syria has challenged the U.S. and France to provide proof to support their allegations, but that their leaders "have been incapable of doing that, including before their own peoples." Syrian refugees arrive at the Turkish Cilvegozu gate border, Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Routine prevailed at a US-Turkish airbase in southern Turkey on Monday, a day after the US alleged that sarin gas was used in an August chemical weapons attack in Syria. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia The verbal crossfire, including a rejection of the Western allegations by longtime Syrian ally Russia, was part of frenzied efforts on both sides to court international public opinion after President Barack Obama said he would seek authorization from Congress before launching any military action against Assad's regime. Related Items Articles UN: The number of refugees from Syria tops 2 million; nearly 5,000 a day flee across borders French intelligence: 'Massive use of chemical agents' by Syrian regime in Aug. 21 attack (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.