NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on the Syrian administration and its backers to allow international monitoring and charities to pass through the area where chemical weapons were used.

Stoltenberg strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria, saying that "those responsible must be held accountable".

"We must strive to end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to the five permanent members of the Security Council to break the current deadlock on reported use of chemical weapons in Syria and prevent the situation spiraling out of control in the war-torn country.

I have also been closely following developments in the Security Council and regret that the Council has so far been unable to reach agreement on this issue," Guterres said in a statement.

"Let us not forget that, ultimately, our efforts must be about ending the terrible suffering of the Syrian people," he added. (ILKHA)