Syria rivals urge UN action

Syria's rivals urged the UN Security Council yesterday to act immediately, possibly even by imposing a no-fly zone, after the United States said for the first time the regime has probably used chemical weapons.
The call came as British Prime Minister David Cameron said growing evidence of chemical weapons use by President Bashar al-Assad was "extremely serious" and called for increased foreign pressure on his regime.
"It is time for the UN Security Council to act" on Syria, an official from the main opposition National Coalition told AFP on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
"This is a massive issue, and the Security Council's paralysis over Syria is no excuse," the Coalition official said.
"The UN needs to immediately investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Should it find the regime used such weapons, it must act immediately, at least by imposing a no-fly zone," he added.
During the 2011 uprising that ousted long-time Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the Security Council imposed a no-fly zone to prevent civilians being hit by regime air strikes.
But the Security Council has been stalled over Syria for more than two years, with permanent members Russia and China backing Assad and vetoing several draft resolutions that would have threatened sanctions on the regime.
The Coalition has accused the regime of using chemical weapons in the northern province of Aleppo, in Homs in the centre and in rebel-held areas near Damascus.
The European Union was cautious, reiterating a request to Damascus to allow a UN chemical weapons probe in Syria.
On Thursday, UN leader Ban Ki-moon renewed an "urgent call" for Syria to let inspectors into the country.
Syria asked for a UN investigation but has since refused to let a UN team waiting in the region into the country.
Assad's government, which has systematically denied it would use chemical weapons even if it had them, only wants its claims that opposition rebels used such arms to be investigated.
Israel was at the forefront of calls for military action.