X Factor favourite Tamera Foster "upset and ashamed" after drug-taking boasts......So oyibo too smock scon

Revelations: Tamera

X Factor favourite Tamera Foster has spoken of her shame after being caught bragging about drugs.
And in a heartfelt plea the 16-year-old whose stunning performance wowed the Wembley Arena crowd begged: “Please don’t let this ruin my dream.”
She had been caught boasting online about smoking marijuana laced with class-A drug PCP - which can cause terrifying hallucinations.
The revelations – exposed by the Sunday Mirror – led to a dressing-down for Tamera by X Factor bosses.
Now, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, Tamera said she deserved another chance.
She said: “I’m upset and ashamed by my actions and realise how stupid I was.
“I never meant to encourage or endorse the use of drugs.
"It’s no excuse, but this was several months ago and I’ve done a lot of growing up since then.
"I really want to move on from this and focus on my passion, music, and doing well in the competition.
"The support I’ve had since my audition went out has been brilliant and I’m really overwhelmed.
“I don’t want anything to get in the way of me achieving my dream.”

 

Tamera posted pictures of what appeared to be a cannabis joint but also bragged of smoking “zoom”, which is marijuana coated in PCP.
She made several references to “Mary Jane” – a slang term for cannabis - with one Twitter caption saying: “Puffing on that Mary Jane with @LivvsParkerx.”
Another druggy Tweet read: “Woiiii I just woke up: O that zoom last night put me to sleeeeeep garddd,” while another boasted: “In hale that good s**t exhale the bulls**t.”
According to Government drug advice department Frank, PCP can have disturbing side-effects.
It says on its website it can “cause you to feel very down, panicky and paranoid.
You may believe things that aren’t true. Some people become more aggressive and violent”.

Regret: Tamera says she has grown up a lot

Tamera made her first appearance on Saturday’s opening show as part of duo Silver Rock with Jerrie Dila, 22, but the judges decided to make them perform solo in front of thousands of fans.
The teenager dashed off after forgetting the words to her version of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing.
She needed a reminder from host Dermot O’Leary before going back on and wowing the crowd.
Judge Gary Barlow told her she had “potential beyond belief”, while Louis Walsh said she could be better than Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke – two of the show’s top stars.
Show bosses said: “X Factor does not condone the use of drugs in any way, and appropriate action will be taken against anyone found to be taking drugs while under our care.”
Saturday’s launch show pulled in an average 9.2 million viewers - 500,000 more than last year’s debut.
The ITV1 ratings, which include those watching on +1, peaked at 10.3 million viewers.

Douglas Bennett death: Son 'killed dad with single punch in holiday row over spilt drink'

Tragic: Dad Douglas Bennett

A Brit arrested in Spain on suspicion of killing his father may have thrown just one punch in a row over a spilt drink, it was claimed yesterday.
Fellow holidaymakers at the campsite where Douglas Bennett, 69, died reported hearing his son Ian shouting angrily shortly after the pair had argued in a bar at the complex.
Other guests heard a woman scream after the grandfather was punched to the ground.
The accounts came as builder Ian, 45, from Chard, Somerset, was freed on bail yesterday after appearing in court before a judge.
An autopsy over the weekend revealed that Douglas died from a brain injury caused by hitting his head on the ground or against something hard – and not from a blow.
He had been holidaying with his wife Gloria, Ian and Ian’s wife Louisa.
They had arrived at the popular site just hours before the tragedy.

Bailed: Son Ian Bennett

 Robert Wilson, 60, heard screaming close to the bar area after midnight on Friday as lay in bed in his chalet.
The security officer from Sheffield, who is at the Castell Montgri site in Estartit near Barcelona with his grandchildren, said: “I heard a man shouting about it not being his fault and that a woman had spilt the drink on him.
"They argued quite loudly.”
Douglas is believed to have left the bar area with his son at around 12.30am.
The retired building consultant was found unconscious at 12.45am by security staff.
A woman staying close to the mobile home where the Bennetts were said: “It was an argument and one punch was thrown. The dad hit his head when he fell.
“It’s so tragic. This is a happy, family-friendly place.”
A mum, who asked not to be named, added: “I heard a woman scream in the middle of the night. It made me sit up in bed.
"She sounded terrified. We didn’t find out someone had died until the next day.
"You could see the blood on the road next to the bar and pool area where he went down.”

Bale joins Real Madrid from Spurs in £85m world record deal

 

Real Madrid have broken the world transfer record to sign Tottenham forward Gareth Bale.

The Wales star has agreed a £300,000 per week, six-year deal after sealing an £85.3m (100m euros) move which eclipses the £80m Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

"It's very important for Gareth to throw his heart and soul into this move.
"He's got it all and ability-wise he is phenomenal. The only question is whether he's got the mental strength to cope with such a big transfer and the spotlight that will be immense in Spain.
"But it's a fabulous opportunity for him and the important thing is he really needs to grasp it with both hands."

"I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye," said 24-year-old Bale.

"We've had some special times together and I've loved every minute of it."
Bale will have a medical and then be presented to the Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu at 12:00 BST on Monday before speaking at a media conference.
He added: "I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date.
"I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.
"Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure this season will be a successful one for them.
"I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid."
Bale joined Spurs as a left-back for £10m from Southampton in 2007 and scored 26 goals last season as he was named both the Professional Footballers' Association's and Football Writers' player of the year....................................

The secret of Joseph was that he never remembered his yesterday except his dreams. He was always remembering his dreams. One day, he told his brethren and said, “I can see the star. And I can see a star in the midst of the stars.” Genesis 38:9. Joseph was living by the dream of his soul even when the environment was unfriendly. He was so conscious, trying to move ahead in his mind. The three wise men came saying to everyone that could hear “for we have seen his star in the east” Matt 2:2. I demand and decree, this month shall create daily opportunity for you to exercise your ability to see your star and to see the forehead of your Goliath in the name that is above every other name, in Jesus name. Amen" 

"The word ‘Curse’ is a barrier, a yoke and a spirit of diversion and limitation. When a word is pronounced as a curse, it goes ahead to attack a destiny negatively. Balaam was on assignment for Balak but God was in control of his mouth. Heaven is on course to take over the mouth of your oppressors, the mouth of them that have no good expectation about your life. Because the working power of God in your life is a blessed working power. It is power to lift you up and not to bring you down"

THE FOOTBALL GRAPEVINE: Why United would sell Rooney to Arsenal, Holloway still not safe at Palace... and how Willian can be Chelsea's new Ian Britton

Welcome to a new column every week on MailOnline that will take you inside football with Rob Shepherd.

 

Manchester United would have sold Wayne Rooney to Arsenal this summer… had the Gunners made a bid. And the door is still open.
Despite David Moyes talking Rooney up ahead of the clash with Liverpool making the largesse suggestion the striker could achieve legendary status at the United akin to Bobby Charlton (doubt that) there remains unease between the player - no longer top dog - and club.
Indeed Rooney was the at the centre of a new controversy which could threaten his participation in the big Anfield clash and cast new doubt over his future at the club.

English fire: But Manchester United would sell Wayne Rooney to Arsenal if an official bid was received

Pondering: United's stance on Rooney makes it clear they don't see Arsene Wenger's team as a title threat

But I’m told in a recent conversation with England boss Roy Hodgson, obviously concerned that one of his main players appeared to be in a state of limbo, Moyes made it clear United would have sold Rooney this summer but NOT, absolutely NOT, to Chelsea.
Moyes felt he had to set down a marker after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson and there is no way he would take the chance of offloading Rooney to the Blues for fear of the player then helping Jose Mourinho to wrest the title off United.
Had serious offers from abroad or Arsenal been tabled then I understand United would have done business… which tells you much about how Arsenal's chances of making a title challenge are viewed.

Fresh start: But David Moyes did not want to hand Jose Mourinho (below) an advantage by selling Rooney

It’s strange therefore that after all the overtures Arsene Wenger made about signing Luis Suarez he did not bid for Rooney not least because he was telling some of his trusted confidantes at the end of last season that Rooney WAS the forward he wanted.
Wenger, now in desperate need of bolstering his squad especially upfront could still pick up the phone… but would Arsenal really pay Rooney anything like the £250,000-a-week wages he is on?

In action: Rooney was not allowed to join Chelsea, here attempting to get the ball past Ramires

 

Ian Holloway’s position as Crystal Palace manager is still under threat despite the relief of getting their first victory of the season with an impressive 3-1 win over Sunderland having lost their first two games.
On the face of it the prospect of Holloway’s job being on the line so soon would seem extremely harsh.

Jubilant: But Ian Holloway could soon find himself out of a job despite Crystal Palace's win over Sunderland

TWEET ROB

Rob Shepherd is on Twitter @RobShepherd5

But it should be remembered that Palace almost blew making the plays offs… which of course they then won… with a dire end of season run and there were rumblings then that Holloway was on the verge of being ousted.
And I understand there has been tension between Holloway and owner Steve Parish for some time.
If the situation doesn’t improve then Holloway will be on his way although if the club suddenly go on a good run the situation may be resolved. If not Palace have earmarked Alan Pardew, under pressure at Newcastle, as the ideal replacement.
In turn I hear that Gus Poyet would be lined up to take over the Toon.

Premier return? Sacked Brighton boss could be in line for the manager's job at Newcastle United

 

Southampton should be enjoying a near £20million windfall when Gareth Bale finally signs for Real Madrid.
Instead the south coast club could pick up just under £1mn depending on the fee that is finally agreed.
Bale joined Spurs for the Saints in 2007 for £5m rising to £10m with add-ons. There was also a sell-on clause on a sliding scale worth between 15 and 25 per cent.

Percentage: Southampton should be receiving £20million for Spurs' sale of Gareth Bale, but sold the clause

Fledgling: A young Bale in action for Southampton in 2007 before he hit mega-stardom

But a year later when Southampton faced financial meltdown then chairman Rupert Lowe sold off the sell-on clause for a sum believed to be between £1.5m and £3m and took on Spurs youth goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, who has since been released by the club.
FIFA rules still offer clubs ‘development’ compensation for players registered with a club between the ages 12 and 23 on a complex scale. Bale joined Southampton at 15 and moved on just before his 18th birthday, so the percentage would be put at around 1.25 per cent.
If the eventual fee is £78m then Southampton would get around £975,000.

 

LIBERO

Many fair-to-middling teams have favoured a cautious 4-5-1 formation in recent seasons.
Now there seems to be a trend towards a more positive 4-3-3 shape like some of the games bigger teams have been using, with Liverpool, Aston Villa and West Ham for instance deploying more attacking wide men to support the lead striker.

PFA executives have stood by Gordon Taylor with the ‘full support’ for the time being.
There was no way they were going to make a knee-jerk reaction to revelations about Taylor’s betting habits especially as they were made in the same paper the players union supremo successfully sued for hacking his phone.
But once the dust settles there may be a move to re-shape the structure of the union with Taylor moving aside and current deputies John Bramhall and Bobby Barnes assuming more control in the guise of chief executive officer and chief operating officer.

 

There is no chance of any mystery bidders making it into the dressing room of Tottenham’s training ground and plucking players away.
A dedicated ‘first team squad members only’ door is in place at the HQ near Enfield which is accessed by a fingerprint entry system.
Obviously there have been plenty of changes to the data this summer and the next dabs to be erased are likely to be those of Emmanuel Adebayor, wanted by one of Chelsea’s Champions League opponents in Schalke.

 

Good sign? When Tottenham won the Double in 1961, their celebration bus almost read a familiar name today

Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks had a nice way of putting tall the comings and goings at Tottenham as a consequence of the Gareth Bale was like losing Elvis but signing the Beatles.
Now the pressure is on manager AVB not only to get Spurs into the Champions League but actually challenge for the title. And you have to come from the first wave of rock ‘n’ roll to remember when Tottenham last won the title back in 1961 - the year the Beatles first played at the Cavern Club
In fact Spurs did the Double that season - and here is proof from the Daily Mail vaults.
Note the number plate on the bus. A good sign for chairman Daniel Levy perhaps?

 

Misfiring: Demba Ba (right) worried Chelsea bosses with his poor performance against Aston Villa

Chelsea could loan out two strikers before the end of the transfer window. West Brom, Stoke and Liverpool have both asked about Victor Moses. Although Everton may come in late as Roberto Martinez was his manager at Wigan.
The other striker who can leave is Demba Ba, who surprised the coaching staff with how poor he was against Aston Villa, when he was regularly offside. A loan move back to Newcastle is on the cards.

 

iSay

M: Word ‘seeps’ out from Spurs that two mystery bidders have entered the race for Bale: It’s mystery to everyone, especially Man Utd and Marseille who won’t get involved in an ‘up the ante’ façade.
T: Ravel Morrison who ‘has had his problems’ and was shown the door by Man Utd stars on his full debut for West Ham in the win over Cheltenham. If he wants it this boy can go all the way.
W: AVB concedes Bale will be moving to Madrid after all. Two mystery bidders were found with Professor Plum and some lead piping in the conservatory.
T: Walcott says: ‘Everyone may say Arsenal’s squad is very weak but I feel we are stronger than Tottenham and its silly to suggest they are better than us.’ Silly? FOTB fella.
F: Wenger presses the panic button after the Champions League draw, and says he needs plenty of players - really ?! - and chases Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil. Watch your back Theo.

My sources tell me that Darren Bent is impressing new team mates at Fulham. ‘He looks fit and sharp and will score goals,’ my man tells me. Good news for England boss Hodgson, who is short on strikers.
     ......................................................................

Jose Mourinho gave personal evidence to the work permit review board for new - with just two caps for his country - Brazilian Willian. He told the commission how Chelsea needed to play differently and cited the tactics used at Old Trafford, where he played without a recognised front man. The next day, Chelsea took up the chance to sign Samuel Eto’o. Must have been a coincidence.

It will be interesting to see how Chelsea fans take to Eto’o considering how unforgiving they were towards Rafa Benitez for comments he had about the club when Liverpool boss.

A few seasons back when playing for Barcelona he said ahead of a Champions League clash: ‘I’d rather sell groundnuts in my village than to play for a pathetic team like Chelsea.’

     ......................................................................

It does seem bizarre that Brazil’s No 1 and preferred pick for a World Cup on home soil can’t get a game at QPR.
But Julio Cesar wasn’t even on the bench for the 1-0 Championship defeat at Leeds.
Cesar told manager Harry Redknapp weeks ago he wanted to leave, but a move to Napoli broke down. He still wants out, but what will Harry do once the window closes?
A last minute loan deal is still an option. Arsenal perhaps? But the player might have to accept a cut in wages if he wants game time this season, or he will risk his place at the World Cup. Italian club Fiorentina could be an option.

World star: But Brazil's No 1 keeper Julio Cesar can't get ahead of Rob Green at QPR

 

Y FACTOR

Why is that so many teams whose only hope of silverware is winning one of cups field second-string sides in the Capital One Cup just two games into the season and with an international break coming up?

Cray Wanderers proudly boast they are the second oldest club in the world behind Sheffield FC.
Yet for the last 40 years they have been homeless and the Ryman League side continue to ground share with Bromley FC.
But Cray chairman Gary Hillman, an associate director of Crystal Palace, has come up with an ambitious plan for a new stadium leisure facilities and housing development back in the club’s heartland of St Mary and St Paul's Cray but is being blocked by Bromley Council. Why is it so many councils appear so negative about local football clubs?

 

BTW
It can’t happen, can it? But some officials at Manchester United are still hoping for smoke signals from Real Madrid that Cristiano Ronaldo can leave after the arrival for Gareth Bale. They have hoped all summer to land him with a bespoke financial package in place and covert third party discussions have been ongoing for months. As I say, it can’t happen, can it? That would be crazy.

Unthinkable: But United officials are still hoping to secure an amazing return for Cristiano Ronaldo

Back heel
Much has been made of Chelsea new signing Willian’s wild hair style.
Comparisons with Marouane Fellaini, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Tom Huddlestone have already been made.
All show and no, er, blow dry ? High hair can have its benefits. David James once denied Michael Owen in a 0-0 draw between Pompey and Newcastle when his bushy hair deflected the striker’s shot over the bar.
It’s not often you see the quote James offered after the match: ‘It was my Afro that saved it.’

To and 'fro: Chelsea's new Brazilian playmaker Willian has already caught the eye with his afro hairdo

Blast from the past: New boy Willian's hairstyle harks back to the Blues'  midfielder in the 1970s, Ian Britton

Such funky hairstyles are hardly a modern fad. Brazil’s Socrates and Colombia’s Carlos Valderrama sported some of the most stunning locks in the Eighties and Nineties.
Of course in the Seventies Afros were all the rage (many with the help of a perm). George Berry, who now works for the PFA commercial department, had one of the best.
But it’s hard to top Chelsea’s bustling midfielder of the Seventies Ian Britton whose magnificent mop was au naturel, no Cossack spray required. His barber must have used hedge shears to shape his locks. Now that was some barnet!
Britton ended his career with Burnley and still lives in Lancashire where he is the manager of a fitness centre.

Then and now: Britton in action for Chelsea's veterans team, with considerably less hair than his heyday

 

cameron is the best statesman according to poll of attitudes towards British politicians' responses to the Syria crisis

• The PM is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue
• But his standing as a world leader has been badly hit by the loss
• However voters still judge him a better statesman than Miliband

David Cameron’s standing as a world leader and Britain’s much vaunted ‘special relationship’ with America have both been badly hit by his Commons defeat over military strikes against Syria.
And Ed Miliband has won approval for opposing the action.
But the Prime Minister is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue – and is still seen as much better at dealing with international crises than the Opposition leader, including by many Labour voters.

Political capital: Prime Minister David Cameron, left, is still seen as more of a statesman that Labour leader Ed Miliband, right, despite his humiliating defeat in the Commons after urging MPs to back an attack on Syria

That is the verdict of a Mail on Sunday poll on the row over whether the UK should support air strikes against the Syrian regime of President Assad by the US.
Despite the bitter Commons clashes over Syria between Cameron and Miliband, there is no change in the party ratings, with Labour, on 37 per cent, maintaining an eight point lead over the Conservatives and the Lib Dems trailing UKIP.

 

An overwhelming 65 per cent are opposed to UK raids on Syria, with only 19 per cent in favour, according to the Survation poll.
However, that could change dramatically if Assad does not back down. 
Nearly one in two say they would support military action if Assad orders more mass chemical weapons attacks, with three in ten against.
Barely one in five say the Prime Minister is in touch with public opinion over Syria, compared to nearly two in five who say Mr Miliband has judged the public mood correctly.
But despite the doubts, four out of ten say they trust Mr Cameron in an international crisis, against just over two in ten who back  Mr Miliband.
Worryingly for the Opposition leader, nearly one in six Labour supporters prefers Mr Cameron.
A majority of 41 per cent say the Syria affair has damaged David Cameron’s global standing, compared to 38 per cent who say it has made no difference and seven per cent who say it has enhanced it.
One in three also say it has damaged Britain’s so called ‘special relationship’ with the US, though nearly half believe it has made no difference.

A clear majority say the Prime Minister spends too much time strutting the world stage, instead of fixing Britain’s problems.
But more than half say Mr Cameron showed strength, not weakness, by letting MPs vote on the issue.
And 43 per cent say the vote enhanced the reputation of Parliament, left in tatters by the expenses scandal, compared to 23 per cent who say the anti-war vote was bad for the reputation of the Commons.
A total of 1,002 people took part in the Survation online poll, conducted on Friday.

I'm going to copy Cameron! Drama as Obama vows to bomb Syria - but only after U.S. vote (and suddenly Britain is his 'closest ally' again)

• President Obama has said the US should take military action against Syria
• But he wants to put plans to a vote in Congress before launching attack
• Decision throws political lifeline to humiliated David Cameron
• Source close to the PM says it 'vindicates' his choice to go to Commons
• UN weapons inspectors left the war-torn country this morning
• They have taken samples of evidence to be analysed

Barack Obama last night threw David Cameron a political lifeline by following his lead in giving US politicians the chance to veto air strikes on Syria.
In an unprecedented move, the President said he was determined to bomb Syria – but not until Congress voted on the matter.
In theory, as Commander-in-Chief of US forces, he could ignore any Congress vote against military action, but having invited them to do so it is considered highly unlikely.

President Obama has declared the US should take military action against Bashar Al-Assad's regime

Speaking at the White House rose garden, President Obama said he would seek congressional backing for any intervention

The Syrian army restarted its barrage on the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus just two minutes after President Obama finished his speech threatening air strikes. The attacks had stopped five hours earlier.
Regime forces also immediately ‘intensified’ attacks on Aleppo in Northern Syria.
But on the streets of Damascus, those opposing Assad reacted with fury and disbelief that US intervention was not imminent.
‘What did we go through all that for?’ asked one woman. ‘Assad is victorious.’

 

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, Mr Obama referred directly to Mr Cameron’s decision to allow MPs to vote on the issue and again referred to Britain as America’s ‘closest ally’.
Mr Cameron’s gamble backfired when Labour leader Ed Miliband, backed by Tory and Lib Dem rebels, inflicted a shock defeat, keeping Britain out of the conflict.
Tory MPs feared the vote had inflicting a devastating blow to Mr Cameron’s standing at home and abroad – and to the Anglo-US ‘special relationship.’
But Mr Obama’s extraordinary decision to emulate Mr Cameron, immediately hailed by the Prime Minister’s supporters as ‘a huge compliment’, could turn the tables on Mr Miliband, who believed he had scored a notable success.

As UN inspectors crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon, they were followed out of the war-torn country by a continuous flow of families

Within minutes of Mr Obama’s statement, a relieved Mr Cameron tweeted: ‘I understand and support Barack Obama’s position on #Syria.’
And Foreign Secretary William Hague tweeted: ‘A fine speech by the President of the United States on #Syria.’
The extraordinary development from Washington came at the end of Mr Cameron’s worst week in No 10 since winning power in 2010.
The Prime Minister was widely criticised for misjudging his plan to support US plans to punish the Syrian regime after the massacre of hundreds of civilians near Damascus. According to US intelligence reports, 1,429 people were killed by chemical weapons on August 21, including hundreds of children.

The Prime Minister quickly took to Twitter to endorse the president's approach

Mr Obama’s warm praise for Britain came only 24 hours after the White House had called France, which has backed the military action, as its ‘oldest ally’. In one sentence, Mr Obama appears to have restored the old order.
Mr Obama’s comments about the need for a democratic vote on strikes against Syria echoed almost word-for-word Mr Cameron’s  justification for asking MPs to support him.
Flanked by Vice-President Joe Biden, the President said that he remained convinced military action against Assad was needed and that there was no need to wait for the  UN weapons inspectors to report on the massacre.
Then he explained why he was taking the same democratic course as Mr Cameron: ‘Many people have advised against taking this decision to Congress and undoubtedly they were impacted by what we saw happen in the United Kingdom this week when the Parliament of our closest ally failed to pass a resolution with a similar goal, even as the Prime Minister supported taking action.
'Yet, while I believe I have the authority to carry out this action without specific congressional authorisation I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course and our actions will be even more effective.’
A source close to Mr Cameron said: ‘We are delighted the president has done this. It vindicates the Prime Minister completely.’

President Obama revealed advisers had cautioned against going to Congress, particularly in light of the Commons defeat David Cameron suffered

Mr Obama said:  ‘We saw terrible images of the dead. All told 1,000 people were murdered including several hundred children. Young boys and girls were gassed to death by their own government. This was an assault on human dignity and a serious danger to security.’
Mr Obama assured the US public: ‘We will not put boots on the ground’ but said the US was ‘prepared to strike whenever we choose’.
He added, ‘I know well that we are weary of war. That is why we’re not contemplating putting our troops in the middle [of a civil war]. But we cannot and must not turn a blind eye to actions in Damascus.’

Where could they strike? This map of Syria highlights the main strategic towns in the strife-torn country

Target Damascus: Locations within the Syrian capital that would likely bear the brunt of an attack

However Vladimir Putin yesterday dismissed claims that Syria used chemical weapons as ‘nonsense’ and challenged the United States to provide proof before launching air strikes.
The Russian President insisted that if Washington had evidence Bashar Assad’s forces ‘used weapons of mass destruction’ it should be presented to the United Nations.
But Mr Putin said: ‘If they say that the [Syrian] governmental forces used weapons of mass destruction… and that they have proof of it, let them present it to the UN inspectors and the UN security council.
‘Claims that the proof exists, but is classified and cannot be presented to anybody, are below criticism.’
There was no immediate response to Mr Putin’s intervention from the White House.

A UN convoy of vehicles, carrying the UN team of inspectors, crosses into Lebanon from Syria, at the Lebanese border crossing point of Masnaa, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon

UN weapons inspectors arrive at the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in The Hague, in the Netherlands

President Obama said he was 'comfortable going forward without the approval of a United Nations Security Council' that had so far been 'unwilling to hold Assad accountable'

The President faces an uphill battle to get Congressional permission to attack Syria. As it stands, the Republican-controlled lower House of Representatives will almost certainly deny permission while the Democratically-controlled Senate might give him a reluctant go ahead.
Some Washington-based analysts said last night that Mr Obama could suffer the same humiliation as Mr Cameron – and lose the vote.
His decision to delay military was criticized by Syria’s main opposition party, the Syrian National Coalition.
A spokesman said: ‘I am surprised that the President said he has the legal authority and the moral responsibility to respond but then to pass this on to Congress. 
‘The people of Syria will feel that this is inaction.
‘This is a failure of leadership on the President’s part.
‘I thought this announcement was to tell the whole world that he is going to punish this brutal regime and let them know they cannot use chemical weapons against their own people.’
But last night Syria’s prime minister Wael al-Halqi said his country was prepared for US military action. He said: ‘The Syrian army is fully ready, its finger on the trigger to face any challenge or scenario that they want to carry out.’