In pictures: Damascus 'chemical weapon attacks'

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A man, who Syrian opposition activists say survived a chemical weapon attack, rests in a mosque in Douma, Damascus (21 August 2013)
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Syrian opposition activists say hundreds of people have been killed on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, after extensive shelling by government forces.

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The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, said the number of dead had reached more than 1,000 in what it described as a massacre.

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Witnesses claim poisonous gas was used, but the Syrian army says the accusations have been fabricated.

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Video footage and photographs have been posted online appearing to show civilians, including children, suffering the effects of a chemical agent.

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The head of the United Nations team of chemical weapons inspectors currently in Syria, Ake Sellstrom, says they are ready to investigate the allegations and there have been calls for the Syrian government to grant them access.

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The UK said it would refer the issue to the UN Security Council, while France said the perpetrators of such “intolerable acts” had to be held accountable.

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The Syrian foreign ministry said the allegations that chemical weapons had been used by government forces were false, and an attempt by the opposition to influence the UN inspectors and prevent them from carrying out their work.