we are following this story with live team coverage, paul beban is washington. we begin with fill lit ner in london following the diplomatic developments overseas. phil, secretary of state john kerry is currently in paris trying to build an international coalition. there are questions about how many countries are actually support can strikes in syria. kerry says that number is growing. who is right? >> well, secretary of state kerry be in referring to the large block that he got coming out yesterday in lithuania. all 28 member states of the european union signed a statement that condemned the assad regime as responsible for the 21st of august chemical weapons attack outside of damascus and furthermore, calling for some sort of reaction international reaction, to those strikes. so that's 28 nations right there. then you add the turks who have been very vocal. there are many gulf states vocal against the assad regime. theres support within the political sphere. it has to be stressed that there are those who are taking to the streets here in europe as well. you men

paul beban is in washington. and washington developments over -- watching details overseas we have phil london. overseas secretary of state john kerry is currently in paris trying to build an international coalition there. how many countries support strikes against syria? >> reporter: secretary of state kerry said that there were 12 countries that were now prepared to take military action against syria. he said they would make their own statements within the next 24 hours or so. he met today in paris with members of dit taries from the arab league and they hashed out a statement in which they condemned the assad regime, called for some sort of action. secretary of state kerry saying there is no intention to wade into that civil war on one side or the other. it would simply be an action condemning and punishing the assad regime for its use of those banned weapons. so on saturday, he got the eu to sign on to something. today, he got the arab league to sign on to something. it has been a whirlwind tour for secretary

phil ittner is in london watching developments overseas but we will begin with paul beban in washington. paul, do you have a sense where congress stands right now if the vote were to happen today? >> well, good morning, del. right now, the numbers in congress are not very good. >> that's why, as you pointed out, the white house and the administration are really ramping up this media blitz, trying to change the tide of public opinion. they are urging congress to watch these videos that have been released by the senate intelligence committee and dennis m cd unna made the sunday show sweep making his case to congress and the public. >> i have been talking to dozens of members of congress, not a single one of them so far has rebutted or refused the intelligence, which is to say everybody agrees that on august 21st, assad used quemcal weapons against his own people. so the question for congress this week is a very simple one: should there be consequences for his having used gasses, chemical weapons to kill more than a thousand of his own people, including more than 400 children? >> del, this

paul beban joins us live from washington covering that part of the story for us. paul we are now hearing from members of congress who are in and out of these briefings all day. what have you been hearing? >> that's right, richelle. as you mentioned the resolution did clear a key hurdle yesterday, passing through the senate foreign relations committee. today another round of meetings, the big one, senate intelligence committee, we have heard that a few of those members have started trickling out. not making comments to cameras so far but we did hear before the meetings started from republican susan collins of maine. let's hear what she had to say. >> i am concerned about america's credibility. that is an argument on the other side that i'm weighing carefully. i'm worried about the faculty that the president of the united states drew this line in the sand, he clearly did so without having a carefully considered strategy and plan in mind for what would happen if the line were crossed, which i think was inevitable. >> so we'll try to catch up with senator collins and

>> paul beban joining us live from washington, d.c. paul, thank you very much. keep it here to al jazeera for our continuing coverage of the crisis in syria. you can also stay up to date 24 hours a day on our website, aljazeera.com. >>> nelson mandel a is back home in johannesburg nearly three months after being in the hospital there. the 95-year-old civil rights icon remains in critical condition. tania page is following the story from johanessberg. >> there is a ambulance on stand by in case his condition deteriorates and he needs to be rushed back to hospital. he has been transferred home where they say they have set up an intensive care unit for him. they have also moved all of the medical staff that have been attending to him in that pretoria hospital since the 8th of june here to his home. his condition, they say, is still critical. at times, it is unstable, and they need to perform what they describe as medical interventions. they are not really giving any detail as to exactly what that means or what there is. and it and that really is just to protect the

. >> al jazeera paul beban has more on kerry's comments. paul, congress and the white house have not seen eye to eye on anything and now certain i can't. do we have any further insight why the president decided to go to congress in the first place? >> well, del, what we are learning today was that there was a lot of debate between the president and his advisors over this. the president insisted he wanted to bring congress's role front and center and not hide behind it. he was doing this toward an eye toward future conflicts when he might need military. >> the best way to educate the american public is to have that full debate in congress that the framers of the constitution intended. they intended that before or when the nation initiates military, it should be with the approval of congress. that's in the constitution, but it reflects a very important judgment as well, and that is this: we should not be sending servicemen and -women into military conflict if they don't have complete confidence that the nation's political leadership is behind

we now turn to paul beban at the capitol. the protest in washington is just one of actually many across the country today. this is a tough sell to the american people. >> that's right. these protests are going to be taking place today and tomorrow, richelle, and possibly for the rest of the weekend as long as this question about intervention in syria drags on, as the president comes back from his trip to europe for a really failed to garner any international support for a strike against syria. now, all attention turns to continuing the white house continuing to make the case in congress. let's hear from a couple of lawmakers. >> the problem is, he is trying to figure out if we go in is more harm possibly done by some type of retaliation by president assad and others? does iran do something? does russia do something? we are not sure. >> the president has painted himself in a corner on this. his credibility is at stake. i don't want to make a decision based upon the president's credibility. i want to make a decision on what's b

. >> al jazeera's paul beban has more on kerry's comments today. he is joining us live from washington. paul, this congress has been a difficult partner for president obama to say the very least and it will almost certainly be divided over about to authorize a military striking. do we have any further insight today as to why the president en decided to go to congress in the first place? >> well, del, yes, we do. what we are learning is that the president was very concerned that if he didn't go to congress now, for this authorization, what happens in the future if he needs authorization for a future strike against other adversaries such as iran? >> we are in a bit of a dilemma here because i think senator lindsey graham and i and others will be wanting a strategy, a plan, rather than just, are we going to launch some cruise missiles? and that's it? and even more, you even worry more when the president's chief -- chairman of the joint chiefs says it doesn't matter when we strike. well, that's not a military action then. that's a symbolic action. >> r

paul beban joins us live from washington. paul, the president is trying to convince members of congress to back military action. how is that going? >> reporter: well, it is a bit of an uphill fight, richelle. as you've heard, there's a lot of back-and-forth on both sides. we're hearing a lot from lawmakers home in their home districts. obviously, congress coming back into session on monday. again, they are getting a lot of push-back here and there. the president actually asked directly about that issue, how he could convince lawmakers who are hearing no from their constituents at home, how he can convince them to vote yes on any action on syria. let's here what he had to say during that press conference in russia. >> what i have said and i will repeat is that i put this before congress for a reason. i think we will be more effective and stronger if, in fact, congress authorizes this action. i'm not going to engage in parlor games now, jonathan, about whether or not it's going to pass when i'm talking substantively to congress

for now falling short. >> once again that was paul beban in washington. the latest push to win support for the strike on syria is taking place now. the white house just announced president obama just arrived at vice presidenting biden's official residence a while ago. while the white house continues its media and political efforts here at home secretary of state john kerry is on a diplomatic blitz abroad. >> french support for a military strike on syria but he also came to seek help from members of the arab league. >> there is no military solution. and what the united states is seeking, together with others, not alone but with others, and increasing number, well what we are seeking is to enforce is standard with respect to the use of chemical weapons. we are not seeking to become engaged in or party to or take over syria's civil war. >> the arab league has unanimously condemned the syrian leadership for its apparent use of chemical weapons. qatar is a handful of arab nations, but when pressed, qatar failed to mention what it could do. >> what it can do, q

al jazeera's paul beban reports. >> president obama asks congress to approve military action against syria. secretary of state john kerry took the lead. >> the president clearly had sufficient case presented to the american people, that assad had engaged in an outrageous crime against humanity and it was vital to take steps. but i think the president realized consultations with the congress that people wanted to weigh in. and he believed after thinking about it that the united states of america is much stronger when we act in concert. >> secretary kerry made the rounds on the sunday morning shows, that the move was a sign of weakness. >> important development that in the last 24 hours we have learned through samples provided to the united states that have been now tested from first responders in east dmask being s damascus that this case is building and this case will build. i don't believe that my former colleagues in the united states senate and house will turn their backs on all of our interests. >> some lawmakers such as kentuckying senator rand paul. >> less likely or more likel

paul beban is in washington. he joins us with the very latest. paul, do you get a sense that the senate will play ball with the president on syria? >> that remains an sop question, and that's why senators like senator mccain are so important. he has been very critical of the administration's position on syria pushing for more comprehensive strategy. would be more important for him personally but also bringing other skeptical senators on board. to that effect the white house has been working the phones all day long top administration officials including secretary kerry, secretary hagel, national security evacuate susan rice and james clapper all on a conference call to make sure they're on board. members of the white house work both sides of the aisle for their support. >> congress returns to work next monday but i understand there are meetings that are taking place ahead of what's going to lap in the full session of coming. >> that's right. the senate foreign relations committee begins the debate for the resolution of action against syria. that i

we want to show you paul beban is lufn near washington. tell us what's happening now and what's going to happen throughout the day. >> well richelle as you mentioned, there's a lot going on. maybe not the same furs pace as the -- furious pace as the last couple of days in fact right now the senate intelligence committee meeting started at 10:00, they're hearing more about the specific intelligence on syria. we heard from republican senator susan collins a little bit earlier about some of the questions she plans to ask. let's hear what she had to say. >> one of the questions that i have asked is whether we're looking at this issue too narrowly. this is not a choice between doing nothing, and doing a military strike. there are other ways to put pressure internationally on the assad regime to isolate him, that might be more effective, and would not involve the use of military action. i'm also very wary of the united states becoming entangled more and more deeply in what is the civil war. >> and you hear, susan collins in maine, in a closed br

. >>> let's go now to paul beban who has been covering this story, the angle from washington. paul, is there any reaction yet coming in from legislators to this fairly lengthy press conference that the president just had from st. petersburg, russia? any reaction yet? >> reporter: well, right now, richelle, as you've been saying before, most of the lawmakers are home this week in their districts in their home states. they will come back when congress comes back to session on monday. some of them have been here for some of these key senate and house briefings. some of them were open and some of them were closed. most of them are home in their home districts right now. of course, facing a lot of tough questions about any action against syria. the president, of course, asked this morning during that lengthy press conference what it's like -- what case does he have to make to those legislators, how can he convince them to say yes when they're getting so much no from their own voters at home. let's listen to that. >> what i've said and i will repeat is that i put this before congres

paul beban from capitol hill. thank you very much. >>> meanwhile are russia said it's going to urge syria to put its chemical weapons under international control if that could lead to strikes being averted. all of this coming out of a meet with with meeting. we're live in london, phil, what else has come out of this meeting today? >> well, del, you know that headline there the russians saying that they would support the chemical weapons stock pile being put in the hands of the international communities is quite significant because the russians haven't really heretofore admitted that the assad regime has a large stock pile of chemical weapons. that in and of itself is interesting. and we also heard from the foreign minister as saying that if the strike does go ahead, it will basically destroy any opportunity for a diplomatic or political solution to the civil war in syria, something that all sides are saying is the only way for the bloodshed to end. so the russians saying if you strike, america, you will ruin any k

paul beban joins us live from washington.com. >> the administration's top national security and defense officials are going to be going to that key senate foreign relations hearing today, secretary kerry, secretary hagel, as well as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, martin dempsey, a very important meeting. the report is divided, a lot of democrats don't want any action at all. on the other side, you've got senators like mccain and graham pushing for more action. the president really going to have to be threading a needle here between these two different camps. >> you mentioned more action, paul, but what exactly is the administration bringing to the committee? are they just debating whether to strike or asking how forceful those strikes should actually be? >> that's an excellent question. it's going to be evolving. secretary kerry is going to be making the case. again, a lot of what we've been hearing, that not acting against syria is going to embolden syria and other adversaries in the region, iran, potentially even north korea in their quest for nuclear weapons. as far as the de

paul beban reports. >> fifth avenue, on the street level the 36-story tower is home to brand name stores like juice ideas couture or godiva chocolate. this building generated some $39 million in rent between 1999 and 2007 alone all of it funneled directly to a bank owned by the government iran. violating federal law against doing business with rawn. this week a federal judge ruled that the federal government can move to seize the building. the manhattan u.s. attorney's office says the business is a front for bank meli, the government of iran, the building's majority owner is a nonprofit called the alavi foundation. it says on its website that it plans to appeal. a lawyer for the foundation wouldn't provide any comment. comes a week after hasan ranhan are said to are visit the u.n. other signs of a tha thaw, the e is settle for a meeting. >> for the first time i would say in over a decade we are seeing the iran supreme leader lean being heffary on the conservative establishment, for u.s. dialogue. >> 6:55 fifth avenue is worth between five and seven million, even that kind of money is unl

paul beban has the story. >> he didn't have a lot of success getting out any more international support so he took the case to the congress and to the american people in his weekly radio address. >> this is a serious threat to our national security. there's a reason governments representing 98% of the world's people have agreed to ban the use of chemical weapons. not only because they cause death and destruction in the most indiscriminate and inhumane way possible, but they can fall into the hands of terrorist groups who wish to do us harm. >> the beginning of a full court press on the administration. five republican senators over to his house for dinner, on monday of course conscious accommodation back -- comes back into session. six major interviews with all major networks in the united states. those will air on the evening broadcast. national security advisor susan rice. and the president will have a announcement from his home tuesday night. >>> europe's reaction is likely to trouble russia's presence. >> secretary of state kerry appears to have achieved something at the eu leaders m

. >> paul beban missoula, mont. >> stay with us, the weather is next rebecca stevenson. >> mexico has a tropical storm on either side. manuel and ingrid in the bay of campeche. we could see upwards of 25 inches of rainfall throughout the weekend. gusty winds and they're going to be concerned about mudslides . this sound like what colorado went through with extremely heavy rainfall. as we go to the national center of environmental prediction this is the computer model we'll look for the next 24 to 36 hours, the bull'bull's eye is folksed in nw mexico. we're still going to get rain showers and thunderstorms scattered throughout the weekend but the rainfall will not be nearly as heavy and showers and thunderstorms not as common as they were in the last week. also our story is about cooler temperatures. cold front is bringing chilly temperatures in the northeast. 30s and 40s in some spots, that will translate into high temperatures as well, but the frost is going to be in michigan and also wisconsin. >> you're watching al jazeera. i'm john siegenthaler. here are the headlines. residents i

paul beban, al jazeera, washington. >> the arab league is condemning the syrian government for its use of chemical weapons. the 22 arab league nations were in agreement over who is to blame but they are boldly divided over what to do about it. saudi arabia said it would support a strike if the syrian people did but egypt declared it's against any western intervention. >> egyptian state t.v. is reporting that the company's out of president mohammed morsi will stand trial fourteen other members of the muslim brotherhood are to be tried alongside him. no trial dates have been set. his trial is the latest move in a crackdown by the interim government on politicians al lied with the mineral wel m /* brotherhood. he was pushed out by the military on july 3rdrd. mexico's president has proposed some reformats for his country. protests against those reforms turned violent. lawmakers were blocked from entering the open session. lucia newman >> reporter: joined by students and electrical workers are trying to make their way to the congress building right now. but riot police have been blocking th

. >> thank you so much, paul beban, live from washington. >>> next up, to break down the president's political motivations, let's bring in dominic carter. thank you so much for being with us today >> good morning. it's an honor to be here. >> thank you. it's a pleasure to have you. if congress votes against a strike on syria, does that automatically make president obama a lame duck president >> as your reporter just said in washington, absolutely, yes. the stakes are high on this, morgan. it's a huge political gamble that the president is taking, under take can, but at the same time, it's very smart because he is seeking political cover and he's obtaining it. the president is essentially saying to congress, morgan: put up or shut up. either vote for military action or plane why you are not supporting it. so, you have to go back. you have to rewind to fully understand this. president obama, then a candidate, catapulted to the top of the democratic field. why? because of his opposition to the war in iraq. who paid the most price in that democratic primary. there are many that make a st