US to take military action against Syrian regime: Obama

US President Barack Obama has announced military action in Syria.

US President Barack Obama on Sunday announced his decision to take military action against the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

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Though he announced his decision to bypass the UN Security Council, which he alleged has been paralysed, Obama said he would seek the US Congress' approval for his administration to take military action against the Assad regime for using chemical weapons against internationally-established norms.

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But Obama did not announce a time frame for the action.

In an address to the nation from the Rose Garden of the White House, Obama accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, urged Congress to debate and vote for his decision on military action against the Syrian regime.

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"After careful deliberation, I have decided the United States should take military action against Syrian targets. I'm confident we can hold the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons," Obama said.

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"This attack is an attack on human dignity and it risks making a mockery of the global prohibition of the ban on chemical weapons," he said.

"In a world with many dangers, this attack must be confronted. The US should take military action," he asserted.

"I will seek authorisation for the use of force by the representatives of the US people, the members of the US

Congress," he said urging lawmakers to put aside their differences to vote for military action against Syrian regime.

"Some things are more important than partisan differences or the politics of the moment. Today I'm asking Congress to send a message to the world that we are united as one nation," he said.