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Prime Minister David Cameron: "We must listen to Parliament"
A "robust response" to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria is needed despite UK military involvement being ruled out, the prime minister has said.
David Cameron was defeated in the Commons as MPs rejected a motion on the principle that military action could be required to protect Syrian civilians.
Despite the result of the vote, the US said it would continue to seek a coalition for military intervention.
And France said the vote did not change its resolve about the need to act.
Russia - which has close ties with the the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - welcomed the UK's rejection of a military strike, while Germany has ruled out participation in any action.
'Deeply engaged'Mr Cameron said it was a "regret" that he had been unable to build a consensus on the response to the suspected chemical weapons attack on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus on 21 August, in which hundreds of people are reported to have died.
However he insisted the UK remained "deeply engaged" on the world stage.
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Ian Pannell: The victims "arrived like the walking dead"
The UK government's defeated motion had called for military action if it was backed up by evidence from United Nations weapons inspectors, who are investigating the attack which is reported to have killed at least 355 people in the Ghouta area.
The inspectors are due to finish their work on Friday and give their preliminary findings to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon at the weekend.
Mr Cameron said it was important to listen to Parliament's decision.
And despite MPs voting against military action, he said: "I think it's important we have a robust response to the use of chemical weapons and there are a series of things we will continue to do."
Mr Cameron added: "We will continue to take a case to the United Nations, we will continue to work in all the organisations we are members of - whether the EU, or Nato, or the G8 or the G20 - to condemn what's happened in Syria.
"It's important we uphold the international taboo on the use of chemical weapons."
'Appalling crime'There had been suggestions from ministers, including Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond, that Britain's rejection of military action would harm its relationship with the US.
Mr Cameron, though, said he would not have to apologise to President Barack Obama.
"I was faced with three things I wanted to do right and do in the right way," he said.
"First of all, to condemn absolutely and respond properly to an appalling war crime that took place in Syria. Secondly, to work with our strongest and most important ally who had made a request for British help. Thirdly, to act as a democrat, to act in a different way to previous prime ministers and properly consult Parliament.
"I wanted to do all those three things. Obviously politics is difficult - that involved going to Parliament, making an argument in a strong and principled way but then listening to Parliament.
"I think the American people and President Obama will understand that."
In other developments:
Labour leader Ed Miliband said earlier that by rejecting military intervention, the House of Commons had spoken "for the people of Britain".
"People are deeply concerned about the chemical weapons attacks in Syria, but they want us to learn the lessons of Iraq," he said.
"They don't want a rush to war. They want things done in the right way, working with the international community."
He said Britain "doesn't need reckless and impulsive leadership, it needs calm and measured leadership".
He said that Mr Cameron must "find other ways" to put pressure on Mr Assad, who has said Syria will defend itself against any aggression.
Chancellor George Osborne told Radio 4's Today programme there would now be "national soul searching about our role in the world".
He added: "I hope this doesn't become a moment when we turn our back on all of the world's problems."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown has been the fiercest critic of the decision to not take part in military action, saying the UK was "hugely diminished".
Mr Cameron insisted, though, that Britain has "great strengths as a country".
"But on this specific issue, because of the huge concerns about this appalling Syrian conflict and people worrying about how we might get sucked into it, on that specific issue that trumped, as it were, the sense of outrage about the chemical weapons."
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