France threatens to use force if chemical weapons used in Syria

France on Thursday threatened to react with force if it is confirmed that the Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in the eastern suburb of Damascus a day earlier.

"There would have to be reaction with force in Syria from the international community, but there is no question of sending troops on the ground," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told BFM TV network, Xinhua reports.

The main Syrian opposition group claimed that the Syrian government used chemical weapons on Wednesday and killed as many as 1,300 people. But Damascus denied the accusations.