the white house says president obama wants to hear from a united nations team on the ground in syria that chemical weapons were used earlier this week before the president makes a decision about how the u.s. will respond. in the meantime, the president asked the pentagon to come up with a strategic plan in case the u.s. decides to go forward with military action in syria, possibly airstrikes or missile attacks. chuck hagel traveling in asia told reporters the defense department has the responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingencies, which requires positioning our forces and assets to carry out different options, whatever option the president might choose. syria said the allegations it used chemical weapons on its own people as this video purports to show are, quote, absolutely baseless. a u.s. ambassador says president obama has to decide what his obje objectives are with syria, its stockpile of chemical weapons. >> the president said almost a year ago the use of chemical weapons crosses a red line. when the president of the united states makes a statement

. >> there is no excuse for the syrian regime not to provide access to the area and for the united nations teamn damascus now to assess the use of chemical weapons, so we are pursuing this with our partners at the security council. >> ministers to discuss their response to the spiraling conflict in egypt. they condemned the ongoing violence but opted to keep all channels of communication open. they decided not to cut aid to avoid hurting ordinary egyptians, but there was a message for the country's military. >> we have reached some concrete decisions. we have agreed to halt the export of any kind of goods which can be used in a repressive manner. while the situation remains so violently charged. >> the eu hopes that these measures as well as continued efforts at mediation will bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table. >> let's stay with the egyptian story. a court in cairo has ordered the release of egypt's former president, hosni mubarak. that pending a retrial. >> the 85-year-old seen during his trial two years ago has received a life sentence for failing to stop the killing of

inspectors it is seems to me bizarre that we should actually take action before the united nations team that are reporting on our behalf give us the report so we should wait for that i mean it looks as though it will say that chemical weapons were used but we must wait and see i think also we need to see the hard intelligence that the u.s. and the u.k. believe they have to show that the regime did actually carry out this appalling atrocity and if we have got that evidence i think we should show that and display it so people can see it because people don't trust. this sort of information anymore and i think we should then sit down with the russians and say right you think it was the opposition who did it let's sit down and look at all our intelligence here and when we can prove that it is one or the other then that would be the position if we prove it's the regime we can say right it's the regime then i think we should go to the u.n. security council and say to them right we believe we need a suit security council resolution and i imagine russia and china it's russia of admitted that act

united nation's representatives, syrian's government agreed to let u.n. experts inspect the site of the attack. the information administrator says they never used chemical weapon. the united nation's team will begin a fact finding mission to determine if gases were used but the united states is concern today is too late. u.s. officials argue days of heavy bombing around the area likely destroyed evidence of a chemical attack. the defense secretary says that president barack obama is considering a u.s. riresponsibility. >> president barack obama has asked the defense department to prepare options for all contingencies. many lawmakers are cautious about military action. >> the number one chief objective should be to secure and destroy the weapon f. we have to do it militarily, then, last resort, so be it. >> i will do the cruise missile strikes. i think you can do that without boots on the ground. >> some in the international community including russia say the u.s. should not take action unless the u.n. team releases its findings. marle hall, cbs news, united nations. >> they oppose it in the civil war. the pole taken last week shows about 60% of americans say the u.s. should stay out of

the other two locations are undisclosed and it's highly unlikely the united nations team will be ableo go to this area where we're hearing use of chemical weapons. >> thank you very much. >>> huge numbers are trying to escape the violence in syria. the un says if the pace keeps up, the number crossing into iraq alone could 100,000 by next month. the refugees are mainly kurds, and they say people are being targeted along sectarian lines inside syria. many children arriving are suffering from dehydration walking in the heat. >>> pakistan's military says an officer has been killed by indian fire. another soldier was said to have been wounded. india's government has not yet responded to the report. >>> pakistanian security sources said they have recovered tons of explosionives. >>> in the coming hours a judge will rule on corruption charges against hosni mubarak. his lawyer will petition the court demanding he be freed. but he is also facing retrial for negligence in killings two years ago. >>> [ inaudible ] is due to arrive in brussels for emergency talks. what are we expecting, jackie?

. >>> a united nations team looking into human rights violations in north korea is visiting japan. mbers are meeting with the families of japanese nationals abducted by the north and are listening to their plights. the parents of high profile abductee megumi yokota were among those who spoke to the u.n. members. the closed door interview lasted for about 90 minutes. the families later said they pulled out photos of their loved ones and gave details about the abductions. >> translator: i hope the united nations will take measures that will force north korea to act. >> the panel will invite the family members to a public hearing on the abductions in tokyo on thursday. it plans to submit a preliminary report of its find togz a session of the u.n. human rights council in september. >>> japanese researchers have begun a project to identify human remains in north korea. they're looking for traces of japanese who died at the end of world war ii. to complete their task, they need cooperation from north korean experts. nhk world reports from pyongyang. >> reporter: i'm at the cemetery in a s

a united nations team looking into human rights violations on north korea is visiting japan. they are meeting withhe t faamlies of japanese nationals abducted by the north and listening to their plight. the patient parents of the high profile abductee spoke to the un members. the closed door interview lasted for about 90 minutes. they pulled out photos of loved ones and gave details about the abduction. >> translator: i hope the united nations will take measures that will force north korea to act. >> the panel invites to a public hearing on the abductions of tokyo on thursday. they plan to submit a preliminary report of findings to the un human rights counsel in september. japanese researchers began a project to identify human remains in north korea. they are looking for traces of japanese who died at the end of world war ii. to complete the attack, they need cooperation from north korean experts. nhk has a report from pyongyang. >> i'm at the cemetery, a suburb of pyongyang. researchers have begun to inspect the remains. it is based on historical materials collected from the

the fact that the united nations is set to leave on saturday and they think people will leave syria in larger numbers after that. i did talk to a couple members of the united nations teamhat works in the area between syria and israel and confirmed the fact that the rest of the u.n. will leave syria saturday. they were headed back, depending what happens after that date. >> david jackson reporting from lebanon, an important perspective at the border of syria and lebanon, david, thank you so much. >> as the obama administration continues to weigh military strikes against syria, behind the scenes, diplomatic maneuvers are at work. joining us now for a look at those maneuvers is send year fellow at the council of foreign relations and foreign policy planning official under secretary of state colin powell. you probably heard our reporters talking about the latest developments. given the latest, how likely do you view outside military action in syria at this point? >> well, the momentum has slowed somewhat since a couple of days ago, when secretary kerry described what he called the abseenty of the mossive human rights violation with the use of chemical weapons. the united s

the claim of a poisonious gas attack comes as the united nations's team is in syria investigating the reported use of chemical weapons in past attacks. the area isan government calls the claim baseless. >>> michael he has questioned three of the prosecution nearly 90 witnesses. it's not clear whether he will testify in his own defense today. if he does, he is expected to discuss religious justification for his actions. >>> joseph nato is eligible for the death penalty after a jury found him him guilty of four women yesterday. investigators say that dna on one girl's panty hose was a match for him. a his brother attended the hearing. but he said that the verdict will not bring any closure. >> it won't help. he's a waste of life right now. he's taken too many lives, not just any sister's. >> he has been acting as his own attorney. and the penalty phase begins next month. >>> the journalist michael hastings had drugs in his time when he died. he died in a fiery crash in hollywood in june after his car hit a tree. he had traces of methamphetamine and marijuana in his blood. but they say t

but the united nations team in damascus may well have to neglect these allegations. delaying any western armed intervention yet firmer. dominick kane, al jazeera. >> egypt's muslim brotherhood leaders are calling on supporters to stand their ground. they released this video from a secret location in which he told demonstrators not to give up. >>> an u.s. army psychiatrist has been sentenced to death for the murder of 13 people. nidal hasan went on a shooting rage in 2009. >> reporter: we heard from two families of the victims that nidal hasan gunned down. the wife and two daughters of michael cahill talking about the husband and the father who was taken from them. cahill was the the one civilian shot by hasan. and authorities say he was gunned down while trying to save soldiers. he rushed at hasan withing in but a chair, and was gunned down in the process. we heard from a mother of 19-year-old specialist jason hunt calling hasan a coward. hasan was emotional when his sentence was read in court. this is also the beginning of an automatic appeals process that will take

but first, the united nations team investigating the use of chemical weapons in syria has now arrived in the netherlands. the inspectors and the samples they collected while in syria have been taken to the hague where the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons is based. any suggestions that suggest results were imminent have been dashed. a new york spokesman in new york said the experts will first have to analyze all the evidence before presenting their report. >> before the mission can draw any conclusions on this incident, the laboratory process must be completed. and the secretarytary general has requested for the laboratory phase of the investigation to be expedited as much as feasible. and as he put it himself this orning, when speaking with ms. king, whatever can be done to speed up the process can be done but were not given a timeline. >> vat mere putin said he remains steadfastly opposed to military intervention. moscow has challenged to show that the alleged chemical attack was the work of the syrian regime. putin said it was illogical that the serian government

and check up through united nations team.hen russia reduced it, the attack at the same time, the same day that was considered to be attack a chemical attack and spread between security council members. 15 council members on wednesday received a photo from space that those rockets came from territories controlled by opposition and came to the territory controlled by the opposition. so there is no connection with syrian government. why those military preparations and the united states declare about it. i can't hear any arguments. >> if i ask you about the russian response, what the russian response might look like following the foreign minister comments that intervention in syria is possible without the backing of the united nations if a coalition were to intervene in syria what would russia's response be? >> i think that even declaration of such kind, it is violation on international law. it is war against united nation's charter. united nation's charter absolutely clear, reduced it and only security council has the right, leg

united nations representatives, sunday the syrian government agreed to let u.n. experts inspect the site of the alleged attack. syria's information minister says, the regime of president bashar assad has never used chemical weapons. the united nations team will begin a factfinding monday to determine if poisonous gases were used. but the united states is concerned it's too late. u.s. officials argued days of heavy bombing around damascus likely destroyed evidence of a chemical attack. defense secretary chuck hagel says president obama is considering a u.s. response. >> president obama has asked the defense department to prepare options for all contingencies. >> reporter: many u.s. lawmakers are cautious about military action. >> number one chief objective should be to secure and destroy these chemical weapons. if we have to do it militarily, then as a last resort, then so be it. >> i certainly would do cruise missiles strikes. i think you can do that without boots on the ground. >> reporter: some in the international community including russia say the u.s. should not take action until the u.n. team releases its findings. marlie hall for cbs news, the united nations. >> most americans oppose intervention in syria's civil war. the survey

united states is jumping the gun and that there needs to first be any findings of this you really investigating team before any conclusions can be drawn you have a stalemate situation at the united nations security council a draft resolution was forward but behind the scenes both russia and china have voiced their opposition to it what we're hearing from the french from the british and from the turks is that they will act they can act without any kind of u.n. mandate or serby not a consensus in terms of the international community and that might be part of the reason why the latest word from the american president barack obama is that he hasn't yet made a decision as to whether or not to launch military action inside syria. britain's prime minister david cameron is taking the same hold his stance as a u.s. although unlike washington the u.k. government says that it will wait to see the findings of u.n. investigators before deciding whether to act but as well as british public opinion goes almost eighty percent gains intervention in the issue has triggered a street protests in london. crowds gathered near the prime minister's a residence condemning of the government's award talk a large

the united nations team in damascus may well have to investigate these allegations delaying any western armed intervention yet further. dominick cain, al jazeera. >>> a u.s. army psychiatrist has been sentenced to death for the murder of 13 people. nadil hasan went on a shooting rampage at a military base in texas in 2009. we have more. >> each individual will make a statement. >> reporter: 13 families waited almost four years for this day. >> this has been a very long and exhausting process. we are tired. we are hurt. we are resolved justice has been served. >> reporter: the former army major who murdered her loved ones was sentenced to death by lethal injection. >>> let's go to the palace in paris. we were just discussing the talks under way between the french government and syrian oppositi opposition. let's listen to the statement being made. >> translator: after the brutal chemical attack that led to a massacre a week ago in syria, and as you know, more than 1400 people have lost their lives. they are martyrs in addition to thousands and thousands of injured people as a result of th

carrying out of rotation of its naval forces in the mediterranean sea at the same time the united nations team is currently inside syria where they are conducting investigations to determine what happened last week when there was an alleged chemical attack they are talking to eyewitnesses they are gathering samples but the problem is that the only conclusion they'll be able to give is whether or not a chemical attack took place they will not be able to give any kind of indication of who was behind it such attack while damascus did send a letter to the u.n. chief bank you moon in which it indicated three other incidents where syrian soldiers came under fire to quote the letter and said with poison close to nerve gas sarin and increasingly we're hearing from all political forces that there needs to be a united nations mandate before there can be any kind of military action we're hearing this from the u.n. peace envoy brahimi at the same time russia saying the. it is against any kind of military action inside syria russia saying that the united states is jumping the gun and that there needs to be

what is happens equally shocking is that a united nation's team of chemical weapons experts is in syriaand staying at a hotel not far from the scene. they arrived three days before the aledged attack, but their limited mandate means they have not been allowed to the site. they are limited to go to the location previously agreed on. united nations secretary general says the team must be given access. >> once again i call for immediate investigation of this latest incident. >> reporter: western diplomats hoped once on the ground they would be able to broaden the scope of their inspections. >> all of the indications from the casualties and everything else we have seen over the last 48 hours would lead us to believe that it is a chemical agent. these are non-persistent agents. they kill people very quickly, and then dissipate very quickly. so that evidence will not remain on the ground for very long. usually hours, possibly days, at the most a week or two. >> reporter: pressure to allow the un team access to the site is mounting. >> our priority is to make sure the world knows the facts of

the attack happening the same day a united nations team was there to investigate previous attack sites. >> ousted former egyptian president hose see mubarek has been ordered by court to be released an put under house arrest. the 85-year-old has been locked up for the past 17 months. mubarek could be back behind bars. it includes the protestors during the up riding that forced him from power back in 2011. >> the government is continue to go fighalt the murder between american airlines and u.s. airways. what will american airlines do if the merger falls through? they haven't figured that out yet. american airlines has no plan b should the merger with u.s. airways fall through. that is according to the general council who confirmed that detail to the news. the justice department moved last week to block this airline message saying it reduces competition and harms consumers in the end with higher ticket prices. americans banked on the merger for its ticket out of bankruptcy. it has spent get this half a million dollars a day in legal bills and the cost to fight the government to get this m

>> right now, they're actually happens to be a united nations chemical weapons investigative team on the ground in syria. they were just granted access to the country yesterday, i believe. given the reports we have seen overnight about what may or may not have taken place in syria, we think it is important for that investigative team to be given access to that area. the assad regime, when presented with evidence that chemical weapons had been used in their country, have said that they are interested in a credible investigation to get to the bottom of what has happened. it is time for them to live up to that claim. if they actually are interested in getting to the bottom of the use of chemical weapons and whether or not that has occurred in syria, and they will allow the investigative team that is already in syria to access the site where chemical weapons may have been used. it will allow them unfettered access to eyewitnesses, or even those who were affected by the weapons. it will allow them to collect physical samples without manipulation. and it will also ensure the security of th

there is also a united nations investigative team on the ground in syria trying to determine if chemical weapons were used. the president's team wants to hear from them. today the u.n.'s disarm a amount chief arrived to press syrian president assad's government to allow that investigative team to go to the site of the reported chemical attack. here is u.n. secretary general moon. >> any use of chemical weapons by anybody under any circumstances would violate international law. such a crime against humanity should result in serious consequence for them. >> president obama said reports about a chemical attack are, quote, very troublesome. gregg? >> gregg: yeah. the video seems to speak volumes. molly, thanks very much. fox news national security analyst k.t. mcfarland will be here to give us her take on the possibility of the u.s. military strike in syria in just a bit. >> arthel: new reports about woeful misconduct by the national security agency, some of the nsa employees reportedly spied on their love interests. officials at the agency saying it wasn't frequent and most of the incidents

a united nations investigation team is on the ground now to do just that.t days after the attacks, they have collected valuable samples and interviewed victims and witnesses. the team needs time to do its job. >> reporter: but it may be too late with western leaders determined to punish syria for what they say is an atrocious crime. the threat of international intervention has not stopped violence on the ground. there has been more bombardment in the damascus, and there is more news of suffering. the syrian national coalition is accusing the syrian government of using phosphorous bombs. >>> live to beirut now, zena all of this talk about possible military strikes and military intervention is napping the international community, but what are people in syria thinking of the possibility of that. >> yes, people are scared. we have spoken to a few residents of damascus. they are stockpiling food, and some people are actually fleeing. we have sources telling us between 9 to 12,000 people entered lebanon over the last 24 hours. but an official at that border cross

they will have to make a decision whether it's worth it to keep that united nations team in syria.there because their job is to see if there's any evidence if chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction were used by either side in this civil war that's been raging for two and a half years. that's a decision the united nations will have to make. i suspect they're going to keep them there even if there's a limited cruise missile strike. i think they will want to remain assuming they can do something. they'll probably get out of there. >> jill dougherty is outside the white house. jill, i apologize if i interrupt you in the briefing starts. we are moving, it seems to be, in a particular direction. anybody who has seen this sort of thing before and wonders how far down the road we are. >> they do. one of the key parts is the administration says they have the proof this was a chemical weapons attack, but who did it. the administration has little doubt that it was the regime of assad. we're waiting to find out when they might release this information that they have that would,

the white house says president obama wants to hear from a united nations team on the ground in syria investigating reports that a chemical weapons attack did happen earlier this week before the president makes a decision about how the u.s. will respond. in the meantime, the president has asked the pentagon to come up with strategic plans in case the u.s. decides to go forward with some type of military action in syria, possibly air strikes or missile attacks. the defense secretary chuck hagel, traveling in asia, told reporters yesterday, quote, the defense department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingencies. that requires positioning our forces, positioning our assets to be able to carry out different options, whatever options the president might choose. syria has said that the allegations that it used chemical weapons on its own people as this video purports to show are, quote, absolutely baseless. one former u.n. ambassador under president george w. bush says president obama has to decide now what his objectives are with syria, its government

circumstances as a chief weapons inspector, what kind of evidence can be found on the ground that the united nations team would be prepared to actually articulate as being at the hands of the assad regime. >> first, realize that the security council mandate did not mandate the team to find out who used the chemical weapons. they may have used it to determine if chemical weapons were used. in many ways that's a far easier task form it's not easy because of the security situation and continued shelling, but you look for soil samples, you're certainly going to take blood samples from the survivors. other environmental sampling. if there are any war depend heads around that possibly contain the chemical weapons, will you do that, swab down buildings, but this takes time, particularly in an area that's been heavily bombarded, as you reported at the top of the show, so it's -- it's not something you're going to do very quickly. >> dr. kay, it just seems to be a fool's errand that it's needed to prove the attack happened. it feels as though the entire globe at this point, including bashar al assad, says the che

according to the white white trying to ascertain what happened in syria and waiting to hear from a united nation's team in syria before the president makes a decision on how the u.s. will respond. in the moan time defense secretary chuck hagel told reporters that the defense department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingency and that requires positioningur forces and assets to be able for the president to choose. and harris, the u.s. has four war ships in the region, harris. >> it is awfully difficult when we are not begin information or notes to know whether and this is a question, does this mean military actions more or less likely at this point? >> it certainly gives president obama more flexibility to order air strikes or missile attacks if he decides to do. that one former un ambassador said president obama has to decide the objectives with syria and its government and stock poil of chemical weapons. >> the president said himself a year ago that the use of chemical weapons would cross a redline and when the president of the united states makes a statement lik

the white house says president obama wants to hear from a united nations team on the ground in syria investigating reports that a chemical weapons attack did happen earlier this week before the president makes a decision about how the u.s. will respond. in the meantime, the president has asked the pentagon to come up with strategic plans in case the u.s. decides to go forward with some type of military action in syria, possibly air strikes or missile attacks. the defense secretary chuck hagel, traveling in asia, told reporters yesterday, quote, the defense department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingencies. that requires positioning our forces, positioning our assets to be able to carry out different options, whatever options the president might choose. syria has said that the allegations that it used chemical weapons on its own people as this video purports to show are, quote, absolutely baseless. one former u.n. ambassador under president george w. bush says president obama has to decide now what his objectives are with syria, its government

questions on redlines from the white house press corps confirmed that they are relying on i united nations investigative teamprovide answers before they act on those redlined fronts. >> we think it is important right now that there actually happens to be a united nations chemical weapons investigative team on the ground and syria. it which is granted access to the country yesterday. so given the reports that we've seen over night about what may or may not have taken place in syria, we think it's important for that investigative team to be given access to that area. lou: we will take all of this up, talking with former ambassador to egypt. also tonight, when arkansas school district took major steps to protect their students. they spend the time and the money to properly train and star and teachers. but the state's attorney general decided to play politics. we talked with the school superintendent here tonight. the president's spokesman today pressed hard by the white house press corps. reporters looking for explanations on claims of syrian chemical weapons use in seeking the president's reaction to the relea

you have a spokesman for the united nations team saying we don't know anything yet.t. number two, they made it very clear with this press conference that they are not going to assign blame while the obama administration clearly said that assad has used these chemical weapons. the u.n. team says that's not our mandate. we are not going to assign blame. this press conference, i think, was a hit against the obama administration. that was not the intent of it. but it really lessens the argument for quick action and definitive action that was the obama administration objective has been. >> congressman, thank you so much for joining us. really do appreciate it. with all the breaking news happening. we have to move on and we are going to remind our viewers that the president is going to be holding a briefing at the white house. 1:15 p.m. eastern time. when that happens, we will bring that to you live. we are going to continue to follow this developing story and bring you the latest developments on the syrian crisis as it unfolds throughout the day and this weekend. thank yo

today a united nations team wrapped up its inspections.e country on saturday, which in syria starts just 90 minutes from now. u.n. officials pleaded for more time before any military abut te it clear the united states does not have to wait. >> because of the guaranteed russian obstructionism of any action through the u.n. security council the u.n. cannot galvanize the world to act as it should. president obama will ensure that the united states of america makes our own decisions on our own timelines, based on our values and our interests. >> trace: in a stunning move yesterday, britain's parliament really did pull our closest ally out of any involvement in the military strike and as of now it appears that france is the only other nation that seems to be onboard. jonathan hunt is live for us in the new york newsroom. the u.n. inspectors have finished their work so what is next? >> a couple of false starts the team had this morning, presumably because of security concerns. they eventually did go through a couple more hours of evidence gather

also today the united nations team inside of damascus wrapped up all of its work.ped up a bunch samples. whether their report means anything in the end is yet to be seen. they depart damascus tomorrow morning. the waiting and watching not only what will happen in syria the feeling the way the u.s. handles this especially from israeli perspective will tell israeli leaders much what will happen when it cops to iran. much the same words he said about iran he said about syria as well. in the words of one commentator here, it is time for the stop talking to stop and tomahawks to five. david: we have only five second answer to this question. i know syria works on behalf of iranians want but, if in fact it goes escalates beyond is israel prepared for a direct attack from iran? >> prepared? but probably it would be end up in a very bloody regional war. david: good stuff, leland vittert. thank you very much. appreciate it. cheryl: now to rich edson he is joining us from the white house. it has been a busy day at the white house, rich? >> reporter: it has. here as well as th

>>> our first look at the bullet holes left behind after a sniper attack on a united nations team in syria. tempers escalating there. >>> gaining ground on a fast-moving wildfire. we're live with the firefighters as they try to push back against the flames in yosemite. meanwhile, weather could actually help or hamper the firefighting efforts over the rim fire. we'll take a close look at what they're up against today and here locally, beautiful beach weather. ha is the word in the weather department. i'll sort it all out for you in your full forecast. >>> big slowdown on tuesday, a crash on the bay bridge. we'll give you the details coming up. >>> right now we take you to the south bay for a spanning look. that is a nice way to ring in a tuesday, a look over san jose with the sun creeping over the horizon on a tuesday, august 27. this is "today in the bay." >>> good morning to you and thanks for joining us. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> i'm jon kelley. great to have you with us. a bay area teenager is dead, sadly this morning, killed in a car crash. this happening the day before startin

on the way, more fire teams expected to head to yosemite to help battle the biggest wildfire in the nation. we have a live report headed your way. >>> right now at 6:00, a unitedcramble away from the scene of alleged chemical attacks next. >>> plus children the unintended targets of gunmen in oakland. we have new details in the search for suspects and new concerns this is becoming just a horrific trend. >>> a raging wildfire prompting evacuations and threatening thousands of homes in yosemite. we're live as bay area strike teams head to the front lines. >>> wheel take a close look at the different elements the firefighters are working against weatherwise. i want to tell you about your new week's forecast. temperatures mild to start. i'll let you know about the rest of the day and the week beyond. >>> more schools continue to come back online, we have the shift in the traffic flow. already seeing the bay bridge backup. i have a crash in san jose which is causing a problem for 101 as well. >>> looking thick out there, mike. you can see some of the traffic on the bay bridge on the upper deck. it's still busy.

questions on red lines from the white house press corps, confirmed they are relying on a united nations investigative team to provide answers before they act on those red line threats. >> what we think is most important right now theree happens to be a united nations chemical weapons investigative team on the ground in syria. they were just granted access to the country yesterday i believe. so given the reports that we've seen overnight about what may or may not have taken place in syria, we think it's important for that investigative team to be given access to that area. >> the president's spokesman today pressed hard by the white house press corp, reporters looking for explanations on claims of syrian chemical weapons use and seeking the president's reaction to the release of former egyptian president hosni mubarak. fox news, chief white house correspondent ed henry hathe report. >> reporter: aides to president obama were pressed today on whether he looks weak from egypt where the military has ignored u.s. calls to end the violence to syria, where reports that the red line on chemical weapons has been c

. >> the united nations team will begin a factfinding mission monday to determine if poisonous gases were used. >> hundreds of civilians killed in syria after suspected chemical weapons attacks. the investigation to figure out whether it was really poisonous gas. >> president obama has asked the defense department to prepare options. >> reporter: from across the bay to around the world, the stories that matter on "kpix 5 news this morning. >> your realtime captioner: linda marie macdonald >>> good morning. monday has arrived. it's august 26. i'm frank mallicoat. >> i'm michelle griego. time now is 6:00. we're following several developing stories as you wake up this morning. the bay bridge closes in just two days to put the finishing touches on the new eastern span before it opens to the public. the five-day closure begins wednesday night so other bay area bridges and roads will get crowded. >>> today u.n. everyone inspectors will begin -- united nations inspectors will begin an investigation of chemical weapons outside damascus. independent analysts say more than 300 people died last

. >> the united nations team will begin a factfinding mission monday to determine if poisonous gases of civilians killed in syria after suspected chemical weapons attacks. the investigation to figure out whether it was really poisonous gas. >> president obama has asked the defense department to prepare options. >> reporter: from across the bay to around the world, the stories that matter on "kpix 5 news this morning. >> your realtime captioner: linda marie macdonald >>> good morning. monday has arrived. it's august 26. i'm frank mallicoat. >> i'm michelle

meanwhile, a united nations team began wrapping up its own efforts to find out just what happened lastk, in a suburb of the syrian capital. outside damascus, u.n. inspectors made a third trip to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack. collecting samples in gas masks and protective gear, while the u.n. secretary general, ban ki- moon, said their mission is nearly over. he spoke in vienna. >> they will continue investigation activities until tomorrow, friday and will come out of syria by saturday morning, and will report to me as soon as they come out of syria. >> brown: the inspectors' exit could set the stage for possible military action by the u.s. and other western powers against the syrian regime. today, in washington, the obama administration was still marshalling its evidence and still not ready to present it publicly. in his "newshour" interview last night, the president said it's clear who's behind chemical attacks in syria. >> we have concluded that the syrian government in fact carried these out. and if that's so, then there need to be international consequences. >> br

we have requested information from the united nations in regards to the situation we have received their response according to the united nations they their team is in the region investigating these reports which haven't been confirmed as a few odds and should this in fact be confirmed to be true then the united nations are saying that this amounts to a war crime and that probably should provide some sort of stimulation to the international community to act quicker when it comes to syria and the situation which seems to be spiraling out of control and that is exactly what russian foreign minister sergei lavrov said when he urged the international community to come together and solve this issue a stand in syria we believe that in this action in this me we were shocked by the reports of around four hundred fifty kurds massacred in the north of syria's including children just because the men were fighting against and it's not the first such report of the un security council all these terrorist attacks we've seen some of its members refusing to condemn terrorist attacks in syria justifying it with the fact that the people behind them are fighting

. >>> a united nations inspection team is in damascus to investigate smareports of small attacks but they have not been allowed to look into the latest alleged attack. >>> in lebanon, car bombs exploded outside two mosque did. forty-two people were killed and more than 500 injured in the blast. it happened friday in the coastal city of tripoli as worshippers were leaving mosques. al-jazeera dana zudar has more. >> they finished friday prayers. then panic struck. security cameras caught the explosion. two one of two mosques. theplosions were minutes apart. dozens of people were killed and injured. there was no claim of responsibility, but officials say the attacks had one objective: to create sectarian strife in lebanon. tripoli is predominantly sunni and many people are supporters of the opposition. >> this is the work of the syrian government. they targeted us. they gave a message to the sunnis in the north. but we won't be threatened. we will retaliate. >> it is a dangerous time for lebanon. these bombings are seen as an attack against sunnis. last week, a powerful explosion killed

. >>> tomorrow the united nations investigation team leaves for syria, but kerry says that investigation won't reveal anything the u.s. doesn't already know. marianne favro, nbc bay area news. >>> thanks, marianne. still ahead at 5:00, apple makes a play to keep its customers. what the company is doing to make you want to buy a new iphone. >>> i'm stephanie chuong, live on the scene of a double homicide investigation. a young man accused of killing two older relatis. we'll have the details coming up. >>> plus, bringing wildlife back to the wine country. the new push and who's behind it. >>> good afternoon. i'm jeff in the nbc bay area weather center, fog cleared out quickly today at the coast line. stunning view right now of stan across the embarcadero across the bay. that may have you thinking about the giants' game on the nbc bay area at 6:30. areas of the thunderstorms may impact anyone with temperatures in the 80s. i'm back with your forecast in a few. >> announcer: closed captioning sponsored by mancini's sleep world. >>> friday night before a holiday, golden gate bridge looks prett

the united nations inspections team mandate is merely to establish whether the chemical weapons were used and that has already been established. the united nations team does not have a mandate to establish culpability. it's our belief, as the secretary made clear that the regime in syria made obvious attempts to preclude a credible investigation into what happened. having stated initially they welcomed the inspection team to make an analysis. they then blocked that team from having access to the region for five days while they bombarded the region to destroy evidence. today the united nations team caravan was attacked en route to the site. and upon its return from its first day of work from the site, the neighborhood was again bombarded and shelled and a further indication of the utter lack of credibility of the syrian regime on this matter. we do not believe that that credibility is going to suddenly be restored. >> jay, earlier this afternoon. secretary kerry expressed his personal feelings about what he thought about the images that were coming out of syria. as the president expres