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Obama Cancels Calif. Trip To Focus On Syria

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama has canceled a trip to California to focus on his administration's response to chemical weapons use in Syria.

Obama had been scheduled to visit California next week. The White House said Thursday that Obama will stay in Washington to work on a resolution Congress is considering to authorize a military strike in Syria.

Obama has been pressing skeptical lawmakers by phone while traveling this week in Sweden and Russia. His top officials also are lobbying Congress to vote yes.

Obama is asking Congress to authorize a strike in response to a chemical attack the U.S. says the Syrian government carried out. A Senate panel has approved a resolution, but a significant number of senators remain unconvinced and opposition is growing in the House.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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