The only Syrian priest in the Church of England says civilians in war-torn Syria are living "in hell".
Revd Nadim Nassar is accusing western governments of not acting quickly enough to put an end to the violence.
He also doesn't think there should be military intervention in the country following claims of an alleged chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. Activists say the Syrian Government attacked its own people and as many as 1300 people are said to have been killed. The Syrian government and military said the claims are "absolutely baseless" and "completely untrue", and one independent Syrian MP - Walid Al-Zoubi - has questioned what's being reported.
Revd Nassar - from the Awareness Foundation - told Premier's News Hour the situation in the country is a living nightmare:
France is calling for foreign forces to intervene if it's proven that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people. So far there's no sign of the Assad regime allowing UN weapons inspectors to examine the neighbourhood near Damascus where it's alleged to have happened.
Official spokesperson for the Syrian Coalition, Khalid Saleh, said there is clear evidence:
"These are consistent symptoms of a chemical weapon being used against them.
"This has been co-operated by Human Rights Watch, this really goes against everything the international community stands for."
Britain has formally called for chemical weapons inspectors to be given urgent access to the site of an alleged toxic agent attack in Syria.
The former head of the British Army's chemical weapons unit - Hamish de Bretton-Gordon - thinks we need be to cautious in our response:
"The military option must by the absolute last one.
"So if we put that aside I think there are a number of things. We can help protect the rebels, British government are supplying them with protective equipment, we should be training them, very simple training to help them survive."
A Foreign Office spokesman said:
"Our immediate priority is to verify the facts and ensure the UN team is granted access to investigate these latest reports.
"We believe a political solution is the best way to end the bloodshed.
"However, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have said many times we cannot rule out any option, in accordance with international law, that might save innocent lives in Syria."
Stuart Windsor from anti-persecution group Christian Solidarity Worldwide tells Premier if the reports are verified the Assad regime must face the consequences at the UN:
The alleged attack will test President Obama's warning last year to Syria that using chemical weapons would be crossing a 'red line'.
A statement from the White House said:
"If the Syrian government has nothing to hide and is truly committed to an impartial and credible investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria, it will facilitate the UN team's immediate and unfettered access to this site.
"We have also called for urgent consultations in the UN Security Council to discuss these allegations and to call for the Syrian government to provide immediate access to the UN investigative team."