The French president has said a vote by UK MPs against involvement in military strikes on Syria has not changed France's resolve to take firm action.
Francois Hollande said all options were being considered, and that a strike within days was not ruled out.
His comments came after US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Washington would continue to seek a coalition for possible military action.
However, Germany said it would not participate in military action.
Damascus military hosp seems well run and staffed. V clean. Wounded men in two bed private rooms
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper that "such participation has not been sought nor is it being considered".
Russia welcomed the UK parliament's vote, saying it reflected a growing public understanding of the dangers of an attack.
Washington accuses Damascus of using chemical weapons - which it denies.
Meanwhile UN inspectors investigating suspected chemical weapons attacks in Syria were seen leaving their hotel, apparently to visit a hospital in a government-controlled area of Damascus.
The experts are due to finish their work later on Friday and give their preliminary findings to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday.'France is ready'
In an interview with Le Monde newspaper, Mr Hollande said the UK vote made no difference to his support for action against the Syrian government.
"Each country is sovereign to participate or not in an operation. That is valid for Britain as it is for France," he said.
He said that if the UN Security Council was unable to act because two of its permanent members, Russia and China, were in opposition, a coalition would form including the Arab League and European countries.
The Obama administration believes that it is necessary to punish and deter Assad - the only question is whether Europe, represented by France, will be with them”
"But there are few countries which can have the capacity of enforcing any sanction through the appropriate measures," he added.
"France will be part of it. France is ready."
Mr Hollande added that while all options for intervention were on the table, no decision would be taken without the conditions to justify it.
He ruled out strikes while the UN inspectors were in Syria. However, he did not rule out the possibility that military action could be taken before next Wednesday, when the French parliament is due to debate the issue.
British members of parliament rejected the principle of military action against Damascus in a 285-272 vote on Thursday.
From BBC
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