UN should prepare military option in Syria, French foreign minister says

PARIS – France's foreign minister says the U.N. Security Council should consider allowing military action in Syria if an international peace plan fails.

Alain Juppe met with Syrian opposition members in Paris on Wednesday.

He says special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan for Syria is "severely compromised" and that a May 5 report from Annan will be "a moment of truth."

He also says France has been discussing with other world powers invoking Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which allows for action that could be militarily enforceable. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also mentioned a Chapter 7 resolution despite concern it would be vetoed by Russia and China.

A Syrian government crackdown on popular uprising has left thousands dead over the past year.