Angela Merkel: strikes 'necessary and appropriate'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed the actions of the US, Britain and France, saying that the strikes were "necessary and appropriate" to warn against the further use of chemical weapons.

"We support the fact that our American, British and French allies have taken responsibility in this way as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council," she said. But she added that Germany had not and would not participate in military action.