Wall Street Slides over Syria Fears

Dow down more than 100 points

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as signs grew of an impending military strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians last week.

Western sources who attended a meeting in Istanbul between envoys of an alliance opposed to Assad and the Syrian National Coalition said "action to deter further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime could come as early as in the next few days.

Adding to the rising tension, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a television interview with the BBC the U.S. military is ready to act immediately should President Barack Obama order action against Syria.