Nato warns Syria not to use chemical weapons

Nato told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday that any use of chemical weapons in his fight against encroaching rebel forces would be met by an immediate international response.

The warning from Nato secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen came as the US government obtained information that Syria was making what could be seen as preparations to use its chemical arsenal.

Syrian forces, meanwhile, bombarded rebel districts near Damascus in a sustained counter-attack to stem rebel gains aroundAssad’s power base as the insurgency may be entering a decisive phase.