French PM: Syria's Bashar al-Assad 'a war criminal'

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has strongly condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying ''he has become a war criminal'' after last month's alleged chemical attack near Damascus.

Speaking at the start of a debate in the French parliament about possible military intervention in response to the attack, Mr Ayrault said any action would be ''firm, proportional and timely.''