G20 snub for Cameron as Obama meets with French president

US president Barack Obama will not formally meet David Cameron at the G20 summit held in St Petersburg this week.

Many have suggested that the decision of the House of Commons to rule out any military action in Syria might have damaged the relationship between the UK and the US.

Cameron, who had urged Obama to attack Syria from the very beginning, was defeated in the House of Commons last week forcing him to take back his word.

Despite the setback, the prime minister on Wednesday continued to put pressure on Obama to act, suggesting that the Syrian people will face “Armageddon” if the US does not intervene.

David Cameron told MPs: “If no action is taken following this appalling use of chemical weapons, you have to ask yourself what sort of Armageddon are the Syrian people going to be facing?”

The claims that David Cameron would be snubbed by Obama have been rejected this morning when the leaders met in St Petersburg.

The US President however, hasn’t scheduled any formal meeting with the Prime Minister but will talk head-to-head with the French president, Francois Hollande, who is still considering backing the US in attacking Syria.

The US president warned on Wednesday night that the credibility of the international community is “on the line” over Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians. He is now waiting to get approval in Congress for missile strikes in Syria.

For its part, Russia insists that Assad’s government didn’t use chemical weapons, whereas the rebels would be the ones who carried out the chemical attack.

Syria replied to the threats saying that it will mobilise international allies to retaliate against any US-led strike and insisted that it will not change its position “even if there is World War III”.

The G20 summit in St Petersburg will end tomorrow and is going to be crucial to cast light upon the Syrian crisis and the reactions of the different countries on the matter.

Camilla Capasso