russia is sending its warships to the med

Russia is sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the Mediterranean, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

An armed forces source reportedly said the planned deployment was in response to the "well-known situation" - a clear reference to the conflict in Syria.

Russia is strongly against any military intervention in Syria, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believing it would seriously destabilise the region.

Mr Lavrov has said any attack without UN Security Council approval would be a "crude violation" of international law.

Behind the scenes, US intelligence officials are reportedly saying the intelligence is no "slam dunk".

Questions are said to remain about who actually controls some of Syria's chemical weapons and whether Assad himself explicitly ordered the alleged attack.

A draft resolution by the UK on authorising a strike failed to win the approval of the UN Security Council on Wednesday as Russia reiterated its objections.

China has also entered the discussion and warned the West against any military action.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pleaded for all sides to hold off on any military strikes.

He said his inspection team would soon finish its investigation, leaving Syria on Friday and reporting their findings to him the following day.

Last week's alleged chemical attack is claimed to have killed 1,300 people.

http://news.sky.com/story/1134531/syria-russia-sending-warships-to-the-med