NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed Friday an announcement by the United States that it will arm Syrian rebels following confirmation that chemical weapons have been used in the Middle Eastern country, dpa reported.
"The international community has made clear that any use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable and a clear breach of international law. I welcome the clear US statement," Rasmussen told journalists in Brussels.
At the same time, "the right way forward is a political solution" for Syria, meaning the regime and the opposition should attend a planned peace conference in Geneva and "stop the bloodshed immediately," he said.
Rasmussen also urged the Syrian regime to allow the United Nations to "investigate all reports of chemical weapons use" in the country.