Merkel Criticizies Disjointed EU Response to Syrian Actions

Wants all countries on the same page

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday criticised the timing of European Union members' out-of-sync statements calling for a "strong" response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Syrian regime.

With the United States seeking to rally international support for punitive strikes on Syria in the wake of what it says was a deadly chemical attack by the regime on August 21, four EU countries signed a statement Friday at a G20 summit calling for a "strong" response.

The Washington-backed statement was signed by a total of 11 countries that day at the summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia — but not by Germany, which is a G20 member but waited until Saturday to sign.