DHAKA: NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that a variety of sources pointed to president Bashar al-Assad`s forces being responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Speaking after a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, Rasmussen said any use of such weapons was ‘unacceptable and cannot go unanswered’, although he did not suggest any response.

‘This is a clear breach of long-standing international norms and practice... those responsible must be held accountable,’ he said in a statement.

Rasmussen said the military alliance would keep the situation in Syria under ‘close review’.

His comments came as the United States and its allies pressed their case for likely military action against Assad’s government, despite stern warnings against intervention from Damascus’ key allies Russia and Iran.

BDST: 2037 HRS, AUG 28, 2013
RoR/RIS