Syria crisis: Nato 'to approve Turkey missiles request'

[Gerald]

Syrian mortars reportedly aimed at rebels close to the border have strayed into Turkey.

Nato is set to approve the deployment of Patriot missile interceptors to defend Turkey's border with Syria.

A meeting of the 28-member alliance's foreign ministers in Brussels follows a request from Turkey to boost its defences along the border.

Nato officials have made clear such a move would be purely defensive.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad he would face "consequences" if he uses chemical weapons against his people.

"The world is watching. The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable," said Mr Obama in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington.

"If you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons there will be consequences and you will be held accountable."

A Syrian official has insisted it would "never, under any circumstances" use such weapons, "if such weapons exist".

The situation thickens more and more....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20590129

Note: 4 December 2012 Last updated at 05:03 GMT