Syria chemical attack: Russia says US evidence not enough

St Petersburg: President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said the US should wait for the report of UN inspectors who investigated a chemical attack in Syria before intervening militarily, adding that Washington's evidence of the Syrian regime's involvement isn't strong enough.

Dmitry Peskov told a briefing on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Strelna outside St Petersburg that the US evidence "was quite far from being convincing" and urged Washington to wait for the findings of UN inspectors in Syria.

He insisted that the UN Security Council is the sole body that can authorize the use of force.

Russia has been the main protector and ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, using its veto right at the Security Council to block several resolutions aimed at introducing sanctions against the regime.