Merkel: use 'smallest chance' to agree on Syria

BERLIN (AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel says a united international response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria is unlikely but "the smallest chance" must be used to achieve one.

Germany says it won't participate in any military intervention and, ahead of this week's Group of 20 summit of global economic powers, is pushing for action by the long-deadlocked U.N. Security Council. Officials won't specify what action they'd favor.

In a speech Tuesday to Parliament's last session before German elections Sept. 22, Merkel said the Security Council so far has been "blocked particularly by the very hard position of Russia and China."

She says Germany wants to do everything possible to achieve a joint international response "this is not very likely but even the smallest chance must be used."