SAINT PETERSBURG — President Obama ran into an impasse on Friday in his bid to rally international backing for a military strike on Syria as world leaders wrapped up a summit meeting here remaining deeply divided over the right response to what the Americans have called the deadliest nerve gas attack in decades. After a dinner debate that lasted into the early morning hours of Friday, Obama emerged with a few supporters but no consensus, as other leaders urged him not to attack without United Nations permission, which is not forthcoming. Instead, the president had to resign himself to generalized statements of concern over the use of chemical weapons. The failure to forge a stronger coalition here in the face of opposition from the Russian host, President Vladimir V. Putin, raised the risks even further for Obama as he headed home to lobby Congress to give him the backing his international peers would not. It also left Obama in the awkward position of defending his right to take action largely alone if necessary But much of the world, at least as represented at the Group of 20 meeting here, did not favor Obama's proposed course of action. Putin said a majority of the leaders joined him in opposing a military strike independent of United Nations approval, including those from Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy and South Africa. Citing remarks by Jacob Zuma, the South African president, Putin said: “?'Small countries in today's world in general are feeling increasingly vulnerable and unprotected. There is an impression any superpower at any moment at its discretion may use force.' And he's right.” The only countries that supported Obama's plan, the Russian leader said, were Canada, France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Trying to counter the impression of isolation, the White House arranged for a joint statement including those allies as well as Australia, Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain and South Korea condemning the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus, which according to American intelligence agencies, killed more than 1,400 people. “We call for a strong international response to this grave violation of the world's rules and conscience that will send a clear message that this kind of atrocity can never be repeated,” the statement said. “Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable.” Still, the statement did not explicitly endorse military action. Even as Putin ardently argued against an American-led intervention, Russia's Navy continued preparations in the event of an attack. It has already dispatched at least four warships to the Mediterranean Sea, including three that passed through the Bosporus on Thursday, two landing ships and a destroyer. Russian news agencies on Friday reported that additional ships would join the armada, but not until later in September. Putin's chief of staff, Sergei B. Ivanov, told reporters that the landing vessels were being sent in case it was necessary to evacuate Russian citizens from Syria. About his meeting with Obama, Putin said they agreed to disagree during a friendly encounter on Thursday that lasted more than 20 minutes. “We hear each other and understand the arguments,” he said. “We simply don't agree with them. I don't agree with his arguments and he doesn't agree with mine, but we hear and try to analyze.” He added that they did agree that Syria ultimately needed a political settlement.— Agencies
