Syria Chemical Attack Kills 25 People

Syria Chemical Attack Kills 25 People, Government forces and the opposition in Syria have traded blame amid reports of a chemical weapons attack in the country's north.

The Syrian government has accused rebels of using chemical weapons in a strike that killed at least 25 people in a village near Aleppo.

Russia's foreign ministry has backed the claim, calling it a dangerous escalation.

But rebel fighters say government forces were responsible for the attack.

A senior rebel spokesman says rebels do not possess long-range or chemical weapons and would not deploy them on a rebel target if they did.

The rebels say after a missile struck the town of Khan al-Assal, the injured reported cases of suffocation and a strong smell of chlorine in the air.

A photographer for the Reuters news agency in the village echoed those claims, saying victims reported breathing problems and the smell of chlorine.

State television is showing pictures of what it says are people suffering the effect of poison gas.

The Syrian information minister says as many as 86 people were injured in the attack.

If chemical weapons were used, it would be the first time they had been deployed in Syria's two year old civil war.

Syria has one of the world's largest chemical weapons stockpiles.

The United States and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons both say they have not been able to independently verify whether chemical weapons had been used in an attack.

"We are looking carefully at allegations of chemical weapons use, we are evaluating them," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

"We have no evidence to substantiate the charge that the opposition has used chemical weapons," he said.

"We are deeply sceptical of a regime that has lost all credibility and we would also warn the regime against making these kinds of charges as any kind of pretext or cover for its use of chemical weapons."

The US State Department echoed those comments and the Pentagon said it was monitoring the situation.

"I have no information at this time to corroborate any claims that chemical weapons have been used in Syria," Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

"The use of chemical weapons in Syria would be deplorable."

Speaking at the United Nations in New York, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Australia is alarmed by the potential developments.

He says the attack may signal a shocking new stage in the Syrian conflict.

"At least one of our like minded, our like-mindeds, our partners is taking them seriously, and of course like us seeking to reach verification," he said.

"This would be a shocking precedent if it's the case."

Last year US president Barack Obama said there would be "enormous consequences" if chemical weapons were used in the Syrian civil war, which has so far killed more than 70,000 people.
The British Foreign Office says if the attack is confirmed it will require a serious international response.