The US has said there were indications that a toxic chemical, probably chlorine, was used in Syria this month and it is trying to establish whether the Assad regime was responsible for it.
"We have indications of the use of a toxic industrial chemical, probably chlorine, in Syria this month in the opposition-dominated village of Kfar Zeita. We are examining allegations that the government was responsible," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.
He said the US is working to determine what took place and and who was responsible. It will continue consulting and sharing information with key partners, including chemical weapons watchdog OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons).
"So this is a matter that's being investigated and we're working to determine what happened. And once that has been established, we can talk about what reaction, if any, or response, if any, there would be from the international community.
"We're examining allegations that the (Bashar al-Assad) regime was responsible. We continue the process with our partners that Syria committed - the Assad regime as well as Russia committed to that has led now to more than 65 per cent of the Syrian regime's stockpiles of chemical weapons being removed for destruction, and that process continues," he said.
