US Senate committee to vote on Syria resolution today

Ahead of US Congress' debate on whether to authorising US President Barack Obama to take military action against Bashar al-Assad regime for the alleged use of chemical weapons killing more than 1400 people, a key Senate committee is expected to vote on the resolution today.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Robert Menendez said that the draft resolution has been closed and the members are expected to vote on it today, after a classified briefing on Syria in the morning.

Menendez remarks came at the end of a marathon hearing by his committee that lasted for more than three hours and 40 minutes during which the Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey testified.

The hearing was held days after Obama sought Congressional authorisation for a military strike against Syria.

Given the strength of the Democratic Party, the resolution is expected to sail through easily from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with even key opposition Senators like John McCain announcing his support for it.

Senator Bob Croker, Ranking Member of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, said there is a "good chance" that the resolution would be passed by the Committee.

The House Foreign Relations Committee is also scheduled to hold a similar hearing today following which it would also put the resolution to vote. The House of Representatives and the Senate are then expected to debate and vote on the resolution.

Yesterday, Obama hoped that the Congress would vote on the resolution as early as next week.