The foreign relations committee of the US Senate has approved a resolution authorising the use of force against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad for its alleged use of chemical weapons.

The committee on Wednesday approved a resolution 10-7, with one senator voting "present". The vote by the panel clears the way for a vote on the resolution in the full Senate, likely next week.

Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington D.C.