British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday that there is evidence that the Syrian government could use its chemical weapons stocks in its conflict with rebels fighting to oust it.

"We are extremely concerned about the stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and we are also concerned about evidence during the last couple of weeks that the regime could use them," Hague told reporters inManamaon the sidelines of a regional security conference.

He saidBritainhad joined with theUnited Statesin delivering a strong message to President Bashar al-Assad's government.

He said the option of military intervention inSyriahad not been "ruled out" butBritaincontinued to support a peaceful transition.

He said it was notBritain's policy "to supply arms to any side in theMiddle East" but added that the opposition fighters were "receiving arms and making progress on the ground".

Meanwhile, Syria warned the United Nations yesterday that rebels may use chemical weapons after they gained control of a factory producing toxic chlorine east of Aleppo city.



Soran Ali