<p>The United States is still seeking an "international coalition" in response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons, despite a vote against military action by British MPs, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Our approach is to continue to find an international coalition that will act together," Hagel told a news conference.<br /><br />But he did not say which countries might be part of an international coalition, and his comments appeared to strike a different tone from earlier statements by White House officials suggesting the US is prepared to act alone.<br /><br />Hagel said Washington respected the British parliament's stance rejecting participation in any punitive strikes against Syria's regime.<br /><br />"Every nation has a responsibility to make its own decisions," Hagel said during a visit to the Philippines.<br /><br />"We are continuing to consult with the British as with all of our allies. That consultation includes ways forward together on a response to this chemical weapons attack in Syria."<br />He added: "I don't know of many responsible governments around the world, if any, who have not spoken out in violent opposition to the use of chemical weapons on innocent people."<br /><br />US plans to build an international coalition for a military strike on Syria suffered a blow when the House of Commons in London voted yesterday against the use of force to punish a chemical weapons attack last week outside Damascus.<br /><br />Asked if there was anything Syria could do to prevent possible US military action, Hagel said he could not speculate.<br /><br />"I have not been informed of any change in the Assad's regime's position on any issue. I deal with the reality with what we have. I don't speculate on hypothetical situations," he said at a joint news conference with this Philippine counterpart.<br /><br />US warships armed with scores of cruise missiles are converging on the eastern Mediterranean, and US military officials have said they are ready to launch a powerful barrage against regime targets in Syria.</p>
<p>The United States is still seeking an "international coalition" in response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons, despite a vote against military action by British MPs, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Our approach is to continue to find an international coalition that will act together," Hagel told a news conference.<br /><br />But he did not say which countries might be part of an international coalition, and his comments appeared to strike a different tone from earlier statements by White House officials suggesting the US is prepared to act alone.<br /><br />Hagel said Washington respected the British parliament's stance rejecting participation in any punitive strikes against Syria's regime.<br /><br />"Every nation has a responsibility to make its own decisions," Hagel said during a visit to the Philippines.<br /><br />"We are continuing to consult with the British as with all of our allies. That consultation includes ways forward together on a response to this chemical weapons attack in Syria."<br />He added: "I don't know of many responsible governments around the world, if any, who have not spoken out in violent opposition to the use of chemical weapons on innocent people."<br /><br />US plans to build an international coalition for a military strike on Syria suffered a blow when the House of Commons in London voted yesterday against the use of force to punish a chemical weapons attack last week outside Damascus.<br /><br />Asked if there was anything Syria could do to prevent possible US military action, Hagel said he could not speculate.<br /><br />"I have not been informed of any change in the Assad's regime's position on any issue. I deal with the reality with what we have. I don't speculate on hypothetical situations," he said at a joint news conference with this Philippine counterpart.<br /><br />US warships armed with scores of cruise missiles are converging on the eastern Mediterranean, and US military officials have said they are ready to launch a powerful barrage against regime targets in Syria.</p>