The United Nations and the United States are calling for an immediate investigation of Syrian activists' claims that the Bashar al-Assad government used chemical weapons in an attack on civilians. Anti-regime activist groups in Syria say more than 1,300 people were killed in the attack outside Damascus, many of them women and children. Video footage and witness reports appeared to bolster claims that chemical weapons were used. President Barack Obama has directed the U.S. intelligence community to urgently gather additional information to try to assess whether chemical weapons were used Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Thursday. At this time, she said, the United States is unable to "conclusively determine" chemical weapons use, but is focused on trying to nail down the facts, along with its international partners.
@highlight
U.S. military "continues to refine options" says a senior defense official
@highlight
German minister says Russia, China blocked U.N. Security Council resolution
@highlight
Syria is urged to give a U.N. chemical weapons inspection team access to the site
@highlight
Al-Assad government says claims it used chemical weapons are "completely baseless"
"If the @placeholder regime is confident enough, it should allow the U.N. team to investigate (the chemical attack claims) immediately," he added.