Post date: Mar 19, 2013 5:57:30 PM
White House reiterates warning of "consequences" if chemical weapons are used in Syria.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 19, 2013) (NBC) - The White House said on Tuesday (March 19) it was looking carefully at allegations that chemical weapons were used in Syria, but said it had no evidence to substantiate charges that the opposition had used such weapons.
"We have no evidence to substantiate the charge that the opposition has used chemical weapons, we are deeply skeptical of a regime that has lost all credibility," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.The Syrian government and rebels accused each other of launching a deadly chemical attack near the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday in what would, if confirmed, be the first use of such weapons in the two-year-old conflict.
The United States has been concerned that Syrian President Bashar al-Assadwould consider the use of chemical weapons as his grip on power becomes diminished. President Barack Obama has been clear that if Assad and his forces used chemical weapons there would be consequences, Carney said, but he did not detail what those consequences would be.
He said the U.S. position is still that it will supply only non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition.