Syria attack: France says force may be needed

France has said a "reaction with force" could
be needed if Syria is proved to have used
chemical weapons against its own people.
The comments from Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius come as Syrian activists say
hundreds of people were killed in such
attacks in Damascus on Wednesday, BBC
reports.
The United Nations has asked Syria to allow
UN weapons inspectors already in country
to be allowed to investigate.
There is no sign as yet that Damascus will
allow this.
The UN weapons inspectors are staying
about 15km (10 miles) from the site of the
recent attacks, but only have a mandate to
visit three sites previously agreed between
the UN and the Syrian government.
The UN said on Thursday that Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon believed the attacked
"need to be investigated without delay".
He is calling for inspectors "presently in
Damascus, to be granted permission and
access to swiftly investigate the incident".
The Syrian government has described the
latest allegations as "illogical and fabricated".
The Syrian army said opposition forces had
made up the claims to divert attention from
their recent huge losses.
Heavy shelling continued in the area.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told
the French BFM TV channel that if the attack
was confirmed, "France's position is that
there must be a reaction, a reaction that
could take the form of a reaction with
force".
He did not elaborate on his comments, but
he did rule out the use of troops on the
ground in Syria.