US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameroon, after a telephonic conversation, said the significant use of chemical weapons against civilians by Syria's Assad regime would merit a "serious response" from the international community.
Meanwhile, the American naval forces continued to move closer to Syria, as the Obama Administration, considered its options on possible military intervention where the Assad regime has used chemical weapons, killing a large number of people.
Obama, after taking a situation room meeting with top national security advisor yesterday, called up Cameroon, while his Secretary of State John Kerry reached out to his counterparts in the region and across the globe and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, giving direction to move naval assets and forces closer to Syria as part of the Pentagon's effort to give the White House an option for armed intervention if needed.
Following the phone call with Obama, that lasted for 40 minutes, the office of the British Prime Minister said the two leaders reiterated that significant use of chemical weapons would merit a "serious response" from the international community and both have tasked officials to examine all the options.
"They agreed that it is vital that the world upholds the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons and deters further outrages. They agreed to keep in close contact on the issue," a Downing Street spokesperson, said.
Both the countries stand united in their opposition to the use of chemical weapons, the White House said, adding that Obama and Cameroon spoke on the shared security challenges faced by them.
"The two leaders expressed their grave concern about the reported use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime against civilians near Damascus on Wednesday, August 21," it said.
"The President and Prime Minister will continue to consult closely regarding this incident, as well as possible responses by the international community to the use of chemical weapons," the White House said.
Earlier in the day, Obama during the Situation Room meeting received a detailed review of a range of potential options he had requested be prepared for the US and the international community to respond to the use of chemical weapons, the White House said.
