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Reactions to Syria

August 28, 2013 at 3:59AM

White House press secretary Jay Carney answers questions about Syria and chemical weapons during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013. The U.S. was expected to make public a more formal determination of chemical weapons use on Tuesday, however Carney stated that the president did not have a decision made about the response to announce at this time. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ORG XMIT: MIN2013082719523885 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

United states

"There's no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons … the Syrian regime."

Vice President Joe Biden

France

"France is ready to punish those who took the heinous decision to gas innocents."

President Francois Hollande

Britain

"Any response would have to be legal, proportionate and deter future use of chemical weapons."

Prime Minister David Cameron

Syria

"We have the means to defend ourselves, and we will surprise people with them.''

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem

French President Francois Hollande delivers his speech during a conference with France's ambassadors, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Tuesday Aug. 27, 2013. Francois Hollande said France is prepared to take action against those responsible for gassing people in Syria.(AP Photo/Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria on Tuesday, August 27, 2013. Syria's foreign minister said Tuesday his country would defend itself using "all means available" in case of a U.S. strike, denying his government was behind an alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus and challenging Washington to present proof backing up its accusations.(AP Photo) ORG XMIT: MIN2013082710203119 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, right, listens as he and his Italian counterpart Enrico Letta hold a joint news conference in 10 Downing Street in central London Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Letta cautioned Wednesday against UK withdrawal from the European Union, saying it was in Europe's interests for Britain to "stay on board". Speaking alongside David Cameron following talks at 10 Downing Street, Letta said that the EU would be "worse" without Britain, but said he had no fear of the in/out referendum on UK membership which the British Prime Minister has promised by the end of 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Winning, Pool) ORG XMIT: MIN2013082720344588 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

French President Francois Hollande delivers his speech during a conference with France's ambassadors, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Tuesday Aug. 27, 2013. Francois Hollande said France is prepared to take action against those responsible for gassing people in Syria.(AP Photo/Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool) ORG XMIT: MIN2013082719525186 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during The American Legion's annual convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013. Biden says there is no doubt that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government is responsible for the heinous use of chemical weapons. Biden's comments make him the highest-ranking U.S. official to say the Syrian regime is the culprit in a large-scale chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson) MANDATORY CREDIT ORG XMIT: MIN2013082721215094 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)