Saturday,  Aug. 31, 2013 • Vol. 15--No. 47 • 25 of 32

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AP News in Brief
UN chemical arms weapons experts leave Syria as US edges toward punitive strikes

• BEIRUT (AP) -- The U.N. experts investigating last week's alleged chemical weapons strike outside Damascus left Syria early Saturday and crossed into neighboring Lebanon, departing hours after President Barack Obama said he is weighing "limited and narrow" action against a Syrian regime that the administration has accused of launching the deadly attack.
• An Associated Press crew saw the U.N. personnel enter Lebanon from Syria through the Masnaa border crossing and then drive in a 13-car convoy to the Beirut airport. After four days of on-site inspections, the team wrapped up its investigation Friday into the suspected chemical attack on rebel-held suburbs of Damascus on Aug. 21.
• The experts take with them blood and urine samples from victims as well as soil

samples from the affected areas for examination in laboratories in Europe. The United Nations has said it will try to expedite its final report, and U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane is to brief Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later Saturday on the investigation.
• The inspectors' departure brings the looming confrontation between the U.S. and President Bashar Assad's regime one step closer to coming to a head.
• Obama has said that if he opts for a military strike, any operation would be limited in scope and only aimed at punishing Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons.
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Obama moving toward attacks on Syria without broad world support or direct threat to US

• WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is poised to become the first U.S. leader in three decades to attack a foreign nation without mustering broad international support or acting in direct defense of Americans.
• Not since 1983, when President Ronald Reagan ordered an invasion of the Caribbean island of Grenada, has the U.S. been so alone in pursing major lethal military

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