French interior minister: France not to attack Syria alone

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said Sunday that France would not launch an assault on Syria alone and would wait for the United States. Valls made the comments to Europe 1, and said "the US Congress is to decide on whether to punish President Bashar al-Assad's government for a gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians." "France can not go it alone," Valls said and added "We need a coalition." The minister said the announcement by US President Barack Obama on Saturday that he would seek authorization from lawmakers before any intervention created "a new situation" which meant France would have to wait "for the end of this new phase". French President Francois Hollande had reiterated France's commitment to punish Damascus regime that used chemical weapons, in a phone call with Obama. French President had also said that he respected Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval for action in Syria.