IT'S a choice between monsters and maniacs

That was the verdict of New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis on the dilemma faced by western leaders considering a response to the chemical attacks in Syria.

Amid speculation over whether Britain will take action against Syria, the Tory MP, who chairs of the Defence Select Committee said "airstrikes can only be effective when they are in support of ground troops".

He warned that Britain would be helping al Qaida if it assists with a military campaign against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Dr Lewis told BBC Two's Newsnight: "What we've got here in Syria is a choice between monsters on the one hand and maniacs on the other, and it is absolutely untrue to say that apart from the Kurdish-led forces, the Salafists and the Jihadists are not in control of the opposition groups.

"They are and we will be helping al Qaida if we help them to do a sustained military campaign against the brutal Assad regime."

The United States is looking to the UK and France for support as it finalises its response to the assault on the rebel-held town of Douma.

President Trump and his French counterpart Mr Macron had already agreed to co-ordinate a "strong, joint response" after talks by telephone.

Theresa May sidestepped questions about whether Britain would be involved in military action during a visit to Cambridge earlier on Tuesday.

The attack in Douma happened late on Saturday amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce with the Army of Islam rebel group.

Syrian opposition activists and rescuers said poison gas was used on the rebel-held town near the capital, an allegation strongly denied by the Assad government.

Families were reportedly found suffocated in their homes and shelters, with foam on their mouths.

Reports suggested more than 500 people, mostly women and children, were taken to medical centres with difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth and burning sensations in the eyes.

The attack comes almost exactly a year after a chemical atrocity in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun killed dozens of people.

That attack prompted the US to launch several dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base.

Russia and Syria have blamed Israel for an attack on a Syrian military airport on Monday that reportedly killed at least 14 people.