UN chief outraged by chemical attack

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is outraged by Syria's apparent chemical weapons use against civilians.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is outraged by Syria's apparent chemical weapons use against civilians.

Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday that if confirmed, the use of such weapons would be a violation of international law.

Opposition activists said 40 people died in Saturday night's apparent chemical attack in the town of Douma, the last remaining rebel bastion in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. Other reports say at least 70 people died.

Guterres said he supported an investigation into the alleged attack by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier on Tuesday said Russia would submit a resolution to the United Nations Security Council proposing international inspectors visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma, a suburb of the Syrian capital.

Lavrov said the resolution would propose sending inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the alleged attack.

With AP