U.S. Demands U.N. Access to al-Ghouta as France, UK Urge Security Council Meet

The United States on Wednesday demanded "immediate access" for United Nations inspectors to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack by government forces on civilians in Syria.

"We are working urgently to gather additional information," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest in a statement expressing deep concern over the reports.

"Today, we are formally requesting that the United Nations urgently investigate this new allegation," Earnest said, saying a U.N. team in the country was ready to move.

"For the U.N.'s efforts to be credible, they must have immediate access to witnesses and affected individuals, and have the ability to examine and collect physical evidence without any interference or manipulation from the Syrian government."

"If the Syrian government has nothing to hide and is truly committed to an impartial and credible investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria, it will facilitate the U.N. team's immediate and unfettered access to this site."

Syria's main opposition group earlier accused the government of "massacring" more than 1,300 people in chemical weapons attacks near Damascus on Wednesday, saying many of the victims choked to death.

The U.N. team is in Syria to probe previous allegations of chemical weapons strikes leveled against both sides during the 29-month conflict.

Meanwhile, France, Britain and the U.S. have requested an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting over the reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria.

Security Council members Luxembourg and South Korea also asked for the meeting, which was expected to be held in the afternoon in the form of closed-door consultations, a diplomat said.