Azernews.Az

U.S. President Barack Obama has warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that "there will be consequences" if that regime uses chemical weapons against rebel fighters or opposition supporters, Radio Liberty reported.

"Today, I want to make it absolutely clear to Assad and those under his command: The world is watching," Obama said on Monday in Washington.

"The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable, and if you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons, there will be consequences and you will be held accountable."

Obama did not detail what consequences the regime could face if it used chemical arms.

Obama's comments came after U.S. officials said intelligence agents had detected the Syrian regime moving chemical weapons components in recent days, possibly for use against opposition forces.

Tens of thousands of Syrians have died since Arab Spring-style protects and insurrection erupted in early 2011.

The White House earlier said any utilization of chemical weapons would mark a "red line" for Washington.

Responding to reports about Syria's chemical weapons, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the government would never under any circumstances use chemical weapons against Syrians.

In another development, NATO on December 4 was expected to formally approve Turkey's request for air-defense missiles to protect itself from rockets and planes that could threaten Turkey from neighboring Syria.

The move is expected to be endorsed at a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Reports say the United States and the Netherlands are expected to supply NATO member Turkey with Patriot missiles, which can be fired to intercept rockets and planes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Turkey that the deployment of Patriot missiles along the Syrian border may only exacerbate hostilities. Putin was speaking after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Monday.