John McCain Plays Poker At Syria Hearing

US Senator John McCain has been caught playing poker on his iPhone during a key hearing about the possible use of military force in Syria.

He played a few hands under the table during Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting, which was hearing from the likes of Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Despite being snapped by an eagle-eyed Washington Post photographer, the influential senator - who ran for President in 2008 - laughed off the matter.

He tweeted: "Scandal! Caught playing iPhone game at 3+ hour Senate hearing - worst of all I lost!"

The image of Senator McCain's phone has been shared dozens of times by users on Twitter.

During the public hearing, Mr Kerry said the US must "stand up and act" in the face of "undeniable" evidence that the Syrian government gassed its own people.

Senator McCain is a strong supporter of taking military action against Syria.

He has given President Barack Obama his conditional support ahead of the upcoming vote in Congress, but said any strikes must be "more robust" than previously thought.