 "Syria, rebels trade chemical arms charges")
The Syrian government and its foes accused each other today of using chemical weapons, as Doctors Without Borders said 355 people had died earlier this week of "neurotoxic" symptoms.
Meanwhile, a senior UN envoy is in Damascus to press for an investigation into the alleged chemical attack on Wednesday, as US President Barack Obama met his top national security advisers to weigh a possible response.
Obama is under mounting pressure to act following the reported attack near Damascus that opposition groups say was carried out by President Bashar al-Assad's forces and had killed more than 1,000 people.
However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was quoted by his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as saying Damascus would facilitate such a visit.
"The Syrian government will cooperate with the United Nations mission now in Syria to create the conditions for a visit to zones where terrorist groups have carried out attacks with chemical weapons," he was quoted as saying.
"We are currently in the process of discussions with the United Nations mission on preparing this visit."
The National Coalition yesterday pledged to guarantee the safety of the inspectors but warned that the "clock is ticking" before alleged evidence vanishes.
Russia urged Damascus to cooperate with the UN but dismissed calls for use of force against its ally.
With the two sides trading accusations, UN Under Secretary General Angela Kane is in Damascus, tasked by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with establishing the terms of an inquiry.
Ban is determined to "conduct a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation" into the chemical attack claims, his spokesman said.
UN experts have been on the ground in Syria since Sunday to probe three other sites.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said the regime has never used chemical weapons.
"We have never used chemical weapons in Syria, in any form whatsoever, be it liquid or gas," he told a Beirut-based Arabic television channel.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said around 3,600 patients displaying "neurotoxic symptoms" had flooded into three Syrian hospitals on the day of the alleged attacks, and 355 of them died.
Meanwhile, a senior UN envoy is in Damascus to press for an investigation into the alleged chemical attack on Wednesday, as US President Barack Obama met his top national security advisers to weigh a possible response.
Obama is under mounting pressure to act following the reported attack near Damascus that opposition groups say was carried out by President Bashar al-Assad's forces and had killed more than 1,000 people.
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The Syrian government has strongly denied the allegations but has yet to accede to demands that UN inspectors already in the country be allowed to visit the sites of the alleged attacks.
However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was quoted by his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as saying Damascus would facilitate such a visit.
"The Syrian government will cooperate with the United Nations mission now in Syria to create the conditions for a visit to zones where terrorist groups have carried out attacks with chemical weapons," he was quoted as saying.
"We are currently in the process of discussions with the United Nations mission on preparing this visit."
The National Coalition yesterday pledged to guarantee the safety of the inspectors but warned that the "clock is ticking" before alleged evidence vanishes.
Russia urged Damascus to cooperate with the UN but dismissed calls for use of force against its ally.
With the two sides trading accusations, UN Under Secretary General Angela Kane is in Damascus, tasked by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with establishing the terms of an inquiry.
Ban is determined to "conduct a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation" into the chemical attack claims, his spokesman said.
UN experts have been on the ground in Syria since Sunday to probe three other sites.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said the regime has never used chemical weapons.
"We have never used chemical weapons in Syria, in any form whatsoever, be it liquid or gas," he told a Beirut-based Arabic television channel.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said around 3,600 patients displaying "neurotoxic symptoms" had flooded into three Syrian hospitals on the day of the alleged attacks, and 355 of them died.