As the heavy fighting continues throughout Syria, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi spoke on Syrian state TV, to deny, it would use chemical weapons.

The announcement was widely viewed as a veiled threat on foreign intervention - that it would only use chemical weapons if it was facing "external aggression." Although Syria has never officially confirmed it has chemical weapons. The West and Israel were deeply worried that Syria might use its stocks of chemical weapons.

A fact underlined by Nawaf al-Fares, a high ranking Senior Syrian politician, who defected to the Syrian rebels. He told the BBC, that the government would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it were cornered.

Written and presented by Ann Salter