As Syrian rebels blame the death of more than a thousand people on chemical weapons used by the Syrian government, the U.N. is demanding access to the site by the U.N. Chemical Weapons Inspection Team that is already in the country.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that a formal request has been made and that they expect a positive response without delay.

The alleged attacks were reported on Wednesday and the U.N. has been in contact with world leaders concerning the suspected use of chemical weapons. The U.N. Security Council however has failed to reach an agreement on a statement condemning the attacks. Russia and China continue to frustrate efforts by the council to address the alleged atrocity thought to have taken place in rebel-held eastern Damascus.

Syria’s regime continues to deny the allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons by their forces and counter that the videos that emerged showing the victims of an attack to be staged but confirms that they had launched a major offensive in the region. The regime says that the accusations are just a diversion to turn attention away from the huge losses suffered by the rebels of late.

Evidence counter to the Syrian government claims of not using chemicals in Wednesday’s attack continue to be uploaded to the Internet however, by late Wednesday night over 120 videos have surfaced online showing the victims, convulsing, foaming at the mouth and nose, stuggling to breathe and in evident distress. Other videos showed scores of people lined up dead, including small children, wrapped in shrouds with no apparent wounds.

The United States called for immediate access to be given to the U.N. to inspect the site and the victims of the reported attack. In a statement, the White House said, “Today, we are formally requesting that the United Nations urgently investigate this new allegation. The UN investigative team, which is currently in Syria, is prepared to do so, and that is consistent with its purpose and mandate. For the UN’s efforts to be credible, they must have immediate access to witnesses and affected individuals, and have the ability to examine and collect physical evidence without any interference or manipulation from the Syrian government. 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.”

France stated that the International community must respond with force if the allegations prove true, but ruled out the use of ground forces by their country. and Turkey announced that the “red line” has been crossed.