Obama backs military action in Syria, but will seek congressional approval

President Barack Obama pauses after speaking to members of the media during his meeting with Baltic leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. Speking about Syria, the president said he hasn't made a final decision about a military strike against Syria. But he says he's considering a limited and narrow action in response to a chemical weapons attack that he says Syria's government carried out last week. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama stands with Vice President Joe Biden as he makes a statement about Syria in the Rose Garden today at the White House in Washington.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he has decided that the United States should take military action against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack.

President Barack Obama said he is weighing "limited and narrow" action against a Syrian regime that the administration has accused of launching the deadly chemical weapons attack.

But he says he will seek congressional authorization for the use of force.

He says congressional leadership plans to hold a debate and a vote as soon as Congress comes back in September.

Obama says he has the authority to act on his own, but believes it is important for the country to have a debate.

Military action would be in response to a chemical weapons attack the U.S. says Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government carried out against civilians. The U.S. says more than 1,400 Syrians were killed in that attack last week.