France: strive resume peace talks

paris - France continues to push for a resolution of the UN Security Council on Syria, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday. Diplomatic negotiations are far preferable to any military action, he added.

The French minister was asked on television whether France would join a possible US military action against Syria, following the poison gas attack on Tuesday. According to Western countries that attack was carried out by government forces, but Syria's ally Russia said a storehouse of chemical weapons by rebels was hit in an air raid. US UN Ambassador Nikki Haley warned them that the government of President Donald Trump, if necessary, intervene themselves if the Security Council does not act.

'France is still trying to talk to its partners in the Security Council, particularly the permanent members and Russia in particular,' said Ayrault. 'The first goal is a resolution, with the ultimate goal resumption of peace talks in Geneva. '