Foreign Affairs minister telephones opposition leaders on Syria situation

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is calling opposition leaders to discuss the rapidly evolving crisis around Syria’s use of chemical weapons.

But his office says suggestions to recall Parliament to discuss military action are still premature.

Baird spoke first to NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who emphasized that MPs needed to be consulted if there was to be any direct military involvement by Canada.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has recalled Parliament for Thursday, while the U.S. military says it is ready to attack the rogue regime of Bashar Assad when it gets the order.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed during a phone call that the use of chemical weapons by Syria required a firm response, without explaining what that meant.