Syria: UN Inspectors 'Shot At By Snipers'

Weapons inspectors investigating an alleged chemical attack in Damascus have been shot at by snipers, a UN spokesman has said.

The team's lead vehicle was "deliberately shot at multiple times" as they visited a suburb of the city where hundreds of people were allegedly killed.

None of the inspectors, who were dressed in body armour, are believed to have been injured in the shooting, which came after two mortar bombs landed close to their hotel.

The UN's Angela Kane leaves the inspectors' hotel in Damascus

Bashar al Assad's regime said the team's visit to Zamalka and Ein Tarma districts would prove claims that chemical weapons were used against civilians, including children, were "lies".

The opposition claimed 1,300 people were killed, while Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in hospital from "neurotoxic" symptoms.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the people of Syria deserved to know the truth, adding: "We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity."

The international community continues to consider its response to the crisis, with the Foreign Secretary warning military action may be the only remaining option.

William Hague said Britain and other countries could respond to the alleged attack without the unanimous backing of the UN, telling the BBC: "Otherwise it might be impossible to respond to such outrages, such crimes."

Meanwhile, David Cameron announced he was cutting short his holiday to chair a meeting of the UK's National Security Committee.

Doctors Without Borders said 355 people died in the alleged attack

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander urged the Prime Minister to recall Parliament to "make his case in advance of a decision being made".

A Downing Street spokesman said no decisions had been taken on military action and insisted there was no clear timetable.

French politicians are preparing to meet "in the coming days" to decide whether to respond with force, according to the country's foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

There is mounting speculation that France, together with Britain and the US, could back limited airstrikes to demonstrate that deployment of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

However, Mr Assad said military intervention by the US would fail.

"Failure awaits the United States as in all previous wars it has unleashed," he said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia.

Describing the chemical weapons accusations as "nonsense", Mr Assad added: "Would any state use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction in a place where its own forces are concentrated? That would go against elementary logic.

"Accusations of this kind are entirely political and the reason for them is the government forces' series of victories over the terrorists."

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