Syria celebrates US "historic retreat".

BEIRUT/PARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Syria hailed the "historic American retreat" on Sunday after President Barack Obama delayed an imminent military strike, deciding to consult with Congress.

As Obama backed down at the last minute, France stated that it could not act alone to punish President Bashar al-Assad for a chemical weapons attack, becoming the latest Western ally to reconsider bombing Syria.

"Obama announced yesterday, directly or indirectly, the beginning of a historic American retreat," stated the Syrian state newspaper al-Thawra in a front-page editorial.

The US president said on Saturday that he would seek congressional approval before taking military action against Damascus -- motivated by the August 21 attack, in which Assad's forces are blamed --, a decision that should delay any attack by at least nine days.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad condemned any Western armed movement against his government. "The decision to go to war with Syria is a criminal and wrong decision. We are confident that we will be victorious," he told reporters outside a hotel in Damascus.

However, Syria's opposition coalition on Sunday called on the United States Congress to authorize military action, saying that any intervention must be accompanied by more weapons for the rebels.

Obama made the surprise announcement in a game that will test his ability to project American strength abroad and to exert his power at home.

Before the brakes were applied, the path had been cleared for a US attack. Navy ships are in the region awaiting orders to launch missiles, and UN inspectors left Syria after gathering evidence of a chemical weapons attack that US authorities say killed 1.429 people in rebel-held areas.

(By Yara Bayoumy and Dominique Vidalon)

Read also the report in which Bashar al-Assad promises to resist attacks:

Assad says Syria is capable of withstanding any aggression, according to state TV.