A relative weeps over the body of an infant killed in an alleged toxic gas attack in Syria/AFP
BRUSSELS, Aug 28 – The use of chemical weapons in Syria “cannot go unanswered”, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday, adding that the 28 member military alliance will continue to consult on the issue.
“Information available from a wide variety of sources points to the Syrian regime as responsible for the use of chemical weapons in these attacks,” Rasmussen said in a statement after a meeting of NATO ambassadors.
A diplomatic source said the regular ambassadors’ meeting had discussed Syria in general terms and direct NATO involvement was “clearly not on the agenda.”
Rasmussen, who has in the past insisted on the need for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, said NATO condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the August 21 attack in a Damascus suburb which left hundreds dead.
“The Syrian regime maintains custody of stockpiles of chemical weapons,” he said.
“Information available from a wide variety of sources points to the Syrian regime as responsible for the use of chemical weapons in these attacks.
“Any use of such weapons is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered. Those responsible must be held accountable,” Rasmussen said.
He said NATO would “continue to consult and keep the situation in Syria under close review” and continue to help member Turkey which shares a border with Syria.
Earlier this year, NATO, led by the United States deployed Patriot anti missile batteries in Turkey after several border villages were hit by artillery fire from inside Syria.
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