Kerry: US Has Evidence Sarin Gas Used in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senior U.S. officials are laying out their case for a military strike against Syria to lawmakers in a classified briefing today.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry is citing fresh evidence that the Syrian government used sarin  gas on civilians and the case for intervention is strengthening each day.

A day after President Barack Obama stepped back from his threat to launch an attack, Kerry says in a series of interviews on the Sunday TV news shows that the administration learned of the sarin use through samples of hair and blood provided to Washington by first responders in Damascus.

Kerry also says confident that Congress will give Obama its backing for a military strike against Syria. But the former senator also says the president has authority to act on his own if Congress doesn’t give its approval.

Congress is scheduled to return from a summer break on Sept. 9.