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Harper and Obama discuss ‘grave concern’ over Syria Envoys tell rebels West will strike ‘in days’: sources New UN tests put off; US already blames Assad for gas Syrian govt says would hit back, warns against attack Russia opposes strikes, China recalls Iraq errors

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama today discussed the use of chemical weapons in Syria as western powers edge closer to a military strike against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

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The White House says the two leaders spoke on the telephone about their grave concern over the reported use of the weapons by the Syrian government against its own people.

The call comes as reports suggest envoys from the U.S. and its allies have told rebels fighting Assad that a strike could occur in Syria within days.

Harper’s office says the prime minister agreed with the assessment that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its own people, and called it an outrage. “Both leaders agreed that significant use of chemical weapons merits a firm response from the international community in an effective and timely manner,” said Andrew MacDougall, a spokesman for Harper.

U.S. forces in the region are “ready to go,” U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said as Washington and its European and Middle Eastern partners honed plans to punish Assad for a major poison gas attack last week that killed hundreds of civilians.