Russia hit out today at calls for force to be used after Syria's opposition and European states accused the war-torn country's regime of killing hundreds in chemical weapons attacks.
US President Barack Obama said the alleged use of chemical weapons was "a big event of grave concern," as Britain accused Damascus of unleashing the weapons and France called for "force" if the claims were confirmed.
As the regime's allies and foes traded barbs, UNICEF said one million children have fled Syria in what the UN children's agency called a "tragic milestone" in the 29-month conflict.
Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad said his forces used chemical weapons east and southwest of Damascus in attacks Wednesday that killed hundreds. The regime denies the accusations.
Activists released harrowing footage showing unconscious children, people foaming around the mouth and doctors apparently giving them oxygen has triggered revulsion around the world.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague blamed Syria and demanded it grand immediate access to UN inspectors who are already in the country to probe three other sites.
"We do believe this is a chemical attack by the Assad regime on a large scale, but we would like the United Nations to be able to assess that," said Hague.
Russia also urged Damascus to cooperate with the UN experts but dismissed calls for use of force against its ally.
"Against the background of another anti-Syrian wave of propaganda, we believe calls from some European countries to apply pressure on the UN Security Council and already now take a decision on the use of force are unacceptable," its foreign ministry said.
It described the attack as "clearly provocative in nature", charged that Internet footage said to implicate the regime had been posted before it took place and accused rebels of obstructing a probe.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the Syrian government to cooperate with the UN chemical experts and urged rebels also to give them safe access to the sites of the alleged attacks.
Lavrov gave his statement after talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry during which they agreed on the need for an "objective investigation," according to Moscow.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said there was "no time to lose" in probing the alleged attacks.
Obama said the latest allegations of chemical weapons use were more serious than previous ones against Assad's regime.
"We are right now gathering information about this particular event," he said, while warning against the United States intervening hastily and getting "mired in very difficult situations".
