Syria Opposition Says Will Guarantee U.N. Inspectors' Safety

Syria's main opposition group said Friday it will guarantee the safety of U.N. inspectors if they go to the site of an alleged chemical attack near Damascus.

"We are fully committed to assist the U.N. inspectors to get into all locations where chemical weapons were used against civilians," said coalition spokesman Khaled Saleh at a press conference in Istanbul.

"We will ensure the safety of the U.N. inspectors team, however, it is very critical to get that team into the area that was just hit in less than 48 hours, the clock is ticking."

Syria's National Coalition and European states have accused the war-torn country's regime of killing hundreds in chemical weapons attacks on Wednesday, and urged it to allow U.N. inspectors access to the site.

Russia, a close ally of Bashar Assad's regime, had called on the rebels to guarantee access for the team of U.N. experts, who arrived in Syria on Wednesday to investigate earlier alleged incidences of chemical weapons use.

Saleh, who was translating comments made in Arabic by his Secretary General Badr Jamous, also accused Russia of giving "inaccurate" information on the alleged attack, saying the rebels would not obstruct the experts.

Saleh said at least three rounds of missiles loaded with chemical weapons had been fired, citing sources working with the regime that secretly supported the opposition.

He said it was not clear what kind of chemical had been used in the alleged attack, but that the opposition had managed to recoup hair, blood and urine samples as well as debris from missiles, and would get them out of Syria for analysis.

The opposition has said 1,300 people died when Assad's forces used chemical weapons east and southwest of Damascus, an accusation the regime denies.

Activists released harrowing footage showing unconscious children, people foaming around the mouth and doctors apparently giving them oxygen triggering revulsion around the world.