Syrian rebels have accused strongman Bashar al-Assad of moving chemical weapons to the country's borders, after his beleaguered regime said it would use its stockpiles if attacked.
US President Barack Obama has warned Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad it would be a "tragic mistake" to unleash chemical weapons, after Damascus admits it has a stockpile and will use them if attacked.
Rebels seized control of Syria's border crossings with Iraq on the bloodiest day of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, as China and Russia dismayed the West by blocking UN action against his regime.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon and international envoy Kofi Annan called on the UN Security Council to take strong action on the Syria conflict ahead of a vote Thursday on a western-backed resolution calling for sanctions.
Russia will host a top opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday hoping to find common ground with one of the most scathing critics of its refusal to turn against the Damascus regime.