Cameron's spokesman said the resolution will be put to the U.N. in New York later on Wednesday. Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

British diplomats consulted with the representatives of the four other veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, hoping to gain support for a draft resolution authorizing "all necessary measures" to protect Syrian civilians from chemical weapons. But Russia insisted that U.N. inspectors be allowed to complete their report into last week's suspected chemical weapons attack near Damascus before discussing any resolution.

The meeting coincided with growing urgency in calls in Western capitals for military action, although the Russian response underscores the expectation that Security Council authorization for imminent action is unlikely to be forthcoming. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has indicated that the inspectors need four more days in Syria to complete their initial investigation, and more time beyond that to analyze the data.

That time frame -- and the track record of Russia and China of vetoing Security Council resolutions to pressure the regime of Bashar al Assad -- suggest that London is unlikely to win support for a resolution authorizing military action.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier that his country's leaders had agreed that the "world should not stand by" after the alleged chemical attack by Assad.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, however, said it was "premature" to talk about a Security Council response before U.N. experts deliver a report on the suspected attack, Reuters reported.

Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from U.N. headquarters in New York, said the time needed for the inspection "presents a little of a problem for U.S., U.K. and France as they consider possibly taking military action without U.N. authorization."

Discussing his government's U.N. move, Cameron wrote on his Twitter feed that "Britain has drafted a resolution condemning the chemical weapons attack by Assad and authorizing necessary measures to protect civilians."

"We've always said we want the U.N. Security Council to live up to its responsibilities on Syria. Today they have an opportunity to do that," Cameron added.

The move comes on the heels of a U.S. decision to "punish" the Syrian government for the alleged chemical weapons attack and President Barack Obama's implication that U.N. approval may not be deemed a prerequisite for U.S. action.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Tuesday that the U.S. military is "ready to go" if Obama orders action in response to the alleged attack.