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Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

  • Local activists and Syrian-American supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad hold up his image during an anti-war rally in front of a U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square in New York, Aug. 29, 2013. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Local activists and Syrian-American supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad hold up his image during an anti-war rally in front of a U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square in New York, Aug. 29, 2013. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
    REUTERS/Adrees Latif
  • Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government at Trafalgar Square in central London August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government at Trafalgar Square in central London August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
    REUTERS/Olivia Harris
  • People walk along Market Street during a rally against the governments of Syria and Egypt in central Sydney September 1, 2013. Hundreds attended a rally in protest against governments in Syria and Egypt. (REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    People walk along Market Street during a rally against the governments of Syria and Egypt in central Sydney September 1, 2013. Hundreds attended a rally in protest against governments in Syria and Egypt. (REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)
    REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
  • Protestors listen to speeches during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Protestors listen to speeches during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
    REUTERS/Olivia Harris
  • A protestor holds a placard during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    A protestor holds a placard during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
    REUTERS/Olivia Harris
  • Demonstrators hold placards outside the Houses of Parliament in London August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Demonstrators hold placards outside the Houses of Parliament in London August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett)
    REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
  • A demonstrator chants in opposition to the proposed military intervention against Syria in San Francisco, California August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    A demonstrator chants in opposition to the proposed military intervention against Syria in San Francisco, California August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
    REUTERS/Stephen Lam
  • Hilarion Capucci of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church takes part in a rally in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in downtown Rome August 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Hilarion Capucci of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church takes part in a rally in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in downtown Rome August 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
    REUTERS/Max Rossi
  • Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to journalists in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, August 31, 2013. Putin said on Saturday that it would be "utter nonsense" for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons when it was winning the war, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama not to attack Syrian forces. (REUTERS/Alexei Nikolskyi/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to journalists in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, August 31, 2013. Putin said on Saturday that it would be "utter nonsense" for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons when it was winning the war, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama not to attack Syrian forces. (REUTERS/Alexei Nikolskyi/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)
    REUTERS/Alexei Nikolskyi/RIA Novosti/Kremlin
  • Palestinian protesters hold pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a demonstration against potential strikes on the Syrian government, in the West Bank City of Ramallah August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Palestinian protesters hold pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a demonstration against potential strikes on the Syrian government, in the West Bank City of Ramallah August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
    REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
  • Protesters from leftist parties stand behind a Syrian flag with an image of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as they demonstrate against potential military strikes on the Syrian government and to show their support for the regime of al-Assad, in front of the U.S. embassy in Amman August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Protesters from leftist parties stand behind a Syrian flag with an image of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as they demonstrate against potential military strikes on the Syrian government and to show their support for the regime of al-Assad, in front of the U.S. embassy in Amman August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed)
    REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
  • A Syrian living in Bulgaria shouts slogans during a protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in front of the European Parliament office in Sofia August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Pierre Marsaut)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    A Syrian living in Bulgaria shouts slogans during a protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in front of the European Parliament office in Sofia August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Pierre Marsaut)
    REUTERS/Pierre Marsaut
  • Protester Ashraf El-Bayoumi shouts against a military strike against Syria during the "Act now to stop war and end racism" coalition rally outside the White House in Washington, August 29, 2013. The group rallied their opposition to a U.S.-led military action on Syria. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Protester Ashraf El-Bayoumi shouts against a military strike against Syria during the "Act now to stop war and end racism" coalition rally outside the White House in Washington, August 29, 2013. The group rallied their opposition to a U.S.-led military action on Syria. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
    REUTERS/Jason Reed
  • Supporters of the Greek Communist party march to the U.S. embassy, during a rally against any possible military strike on Syria, in central Athens August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)
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    Global Reactions as U.S. Considers Actions

    Supporters of the Greek Communist party march to the U.S. embassy, during a rally against any possible military strike on Syria, in central Athens August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)
    REUTERS/John Kolesidis
Local activists and Syrian-American supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad hold up his image during an anti-war rally in front of a U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square in New York, Aug. 29, 2013. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
Protesters demonstrate against potential strikes on the Syrian government at Trafalgar Square in central London August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
People walk along Market Street during a rally against the governments of Syria and Egypt in central Sydney September 1, 2013. Hundreds attended a rally in protest against governments in Syria and Egypt. (REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)
Protestors listen to speeches during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
A protestor holds a placard during a rally against the proposed attack on Syria in central London August 28, 2013. (REUTERS/Olivia Harris)
Demonstrators hold placards outside the Houses of Parliament in London August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett)
A demonstrator chants in opposition to the proposed military intervention against Syria in San Francisco, California August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/Stephen Lam)
Hilarion Capucci of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church takes part in a rally in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in downtown Rome August 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) talks to journalists in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, August 31, 2013. Putin said on Saturday that it would be "utter nonsense" for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons when it was winning the war, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama not to attack Syrian forces. (REUTERS/Alexei Nikolskyi/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)
Palestinian protesters hold pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a demonstration against potential strikes on the Syrian government, in the West Bank City of Ramallah August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
Protesters from leftist parties stand behind a Syrian flag with an image of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad as they demonstrate against potential military strikes on the Syrian government and to show their support for the regime of al-Assad, in front of the U.S. embassy in Amman August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed)
A Syrian living in Bulgaria shouts slogans during a protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in front of the European Parliament office in Sofia August 31, 2013. (REUTERS/Pierre Marsaut)
Protester Ashraf El-Bayoumi shouts against a military strike against Syria during the "Act now to stop war and end racism" coalition rally outside the White House in Washington, August 29, 2013. The group rallied their opposition to a U.S.-led military action on Syria. (REUTERS/Jason Reed)
Supporters of the Greek Communist party march to the U.S. embassy, during a rally against any possible military strike on Syria, in central Athens August 29, 2013. (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)
Updated

Images from around the world including the U.S., Britain and Australia of people protesting against any military actions the U.S. is considering against Syria.

President Barack Obama stepped back from the brink on Saturday and delayed an imminent military strike against Syria to seek approval from the U.S. Congress in a gamble that will test his ability to project American strength abroad and deploy his own power at home.

Before Obama put on the brakes, the path had been cleared for a U.S. assault. Navy ships were in place and awaiting orders to launch missiles, and U.N. inspectors had left Syria after gathering evidence of a chemical weapons attack that U.S. officials say killed 1,429 people.

But Obama decided to seek the backing of U.S. lawmakers before attacking, as polls showed strong opposition from Americans already weary of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Approval will take at least 10 days, if it comes at all. (Reuters)