Syrian Crisis: UK and US threaten 'serious response'

The United States and the United Kingdom have threatened a "serious response" if it emerges Syria used Chemical Weapons last Wednesday. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone to British Prime Minister David Cameron for forty minutes on Saturday. A statement from the office of Mr Cameron said both were "gravely concerned" by the "increasing signs that this was a significant chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime". The statement added that Mr Obama and Mr Cameron had "reiterated that significant use of chemical weapons would merit a serious response from the international community and both have tasked officials to examine all options". It also said that the two leaders would keep in "close contact". The Syrian government have denied allegations that it used chemical weapons against civilians, killing over 500,  in a rebel stronghold area of Damascus on Wednesday, instead blaming the opposition. Government run state-tv showed images of what it said were underground tunnels used by rebels in the East of Damascus, which were full of what appeared to be gas masks and plastic containers. So far, UN chemical weapons inspectors have not been allowed to the site of the alleged attack by President Assad's regime. Iran's state news agency reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem had told his Iranian counterpart that Damascus was "co-operating" with UN experts and "preparing the opportunity for them to visit areas which have been attacked chemically by terrorist groups".