NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Photo by EPA/BGNES
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, as cited by Al Jazeera.
Rasmussen said the military alliance would keep the situation in Syria under "close review." He said NATO would "continue to consult and keep the situation in Syria under close review" and continue to help member Turkey which shares a border with Syria.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that inspectors should be given time to determine whether Assad used chemical weapons against civilians.
The US State Department said Tuesday it was already "crystal clear" that Assad's government was responsible.