Former US presidential candidate John McCain has told the Today programme that if the US does not act to stop a massacre taking place in Syria, it will have "abrogated its responsibilities".

Speaking to the Today programme's James Naughtie, he said military intervention would require a coalition and the US could not act alone.

On top of the moral case for intervention, he said that if Syria fell out of Iran's orbit, it "would be the greatest blow to Iran in 25 years".

"If we can't defeat the air defences of a third rate power then I have a great apology to extend the taxpayers of my state", he maintained after pointing out that the US spends $3tn on defence.

He went on to say that "this is an unfair fight" and that the Syrian regime in using artillery and tanks to "massacre their own people."

"We have an opportunity to change the landscape and the face of the Middle East", he said.

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