London/Damascus: The White House said on Friday that options for dealing with Syria’s use of chemical weapons include, but are not exclusive to, military force.
Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that US President Barack Obama would consider a range of options including, but not exclusive to, military force, should it be determined that Syria has used chemical weapons. “He retains all options to respond to that, all options.”
He also said that the White House is studying evidence on the use of chemical arms and would not set a timetable for corroborating reports.
The US statement late on Thursday that Syria may have used chemical agent sarin nerve gas against regime opponents triggered strong reaction from the UK, European Union and Turkey on Friday. Sarin is a highly toxic nerve agent that can cause quick paralysis or death.
“It is very disturbing what we are seeing,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said in an interview. “It’s limited evidence but there’s growing evidence that we have seen too of the use of chemical weapons, probably by the regime.”
The EU reiterated a request to Damascus to enable a UN probe in Syria. Turkey said any use of chemical weapons “take the crisis to another level”.
The Syrian opposition National Coalition urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action. The UN, meanwhile, has asked Damascus to allow international experts “unconditional and unfettered access” to investigate the alleged use of chemical arms.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Damascus to respond to the letter from his office “swiftly and favourably so a fact-finding mission can carry out its work in Syria.”
Two Syrian officials denied that government forces had used chemical weapons, Damascus’ first response to US assertions that it had.
