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Bridget Kendall investigates how the attack unfolded, mainly through extremely distressing videos posted online
US President Barack Obama has said the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria in an attack on Wednesday is a "big event of grave concern".
Mr Obama said the US was still seeking confirmation such weapons were used, but if proved true the situation would "require America's attention".
Meanwhile, Syria's main ally Russia has urged it to allow a United Nations team to investigate the allegations.
Activists say hundreds died in the alleged chemical attack near Damascus.
The British government believes the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the attack, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Friday.
But despite calls from many different countries, there is no sign yet that Damascus will allow a UN inspection team to visit to investigate the claims.
Unverified footage shows civilians - many of them children - dead or suffering from what appear to be horrific symptoms as a result of Wednesday's attack.
Also on Friday, UN agencies said the number of children forced to flee Syria had reached one million.
The UN's refugee agency and Unicef describe the figure as "a shameful milestone", and say a further two million children are displaced within the country.
'Very troublesome'Last year President Obama said the use of chemical weapons in Syria would cross a "red line" and force a tough US response.
In an interview broadcast on CNN on Friday, he said that the recent claims of chemical weapons use were "very troublesome".
"Start Quote
End QuotePresident Obama clearly has a problem, and will be accused of inaction and dithering"
"What we've seen indicates clearly this is a big event, of grave concern, and we are already in communications with the entire international community," Mr Obama said.
He said that "core national interests" of the US were involved in the Syrian conflict, "both in terms of us making sure that weapons of mass destruction are not proliferating, as well as needing to protect our allies, our bases in the region."
But he added that "The notion that the US can somehow solve what is a sectarian, complex problem inside of Syria sometimes is overstated."
"We don't expect co-operation [from the Syrian government] given their past history," Mr Obama added.
Meanwhile Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday: "The Russian side called on the Syrian government to co-operate with the UN chemical experts.
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"I've seen people with loss of speech... [one child] compulsively shooting with a toy gun," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres
"It is now up to the opposition, which should guarantee safe access for the mission to the alleged place of the incident."
It claimed the opposition was currently preventing an objective investigation.
'Something to hide'Other leaders have also pushed for an urgent investigation.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has already called for one "without delay".
"I can think of no good reason why any party - either government or opposition forces - would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," Mr Ban said from the South Korean capital, Seoul.
'Chemical attack': What we know
- 01:15: 21 August (10:15 GMT 20 Aug): Facebook pages of Syrian opposition report heavy fighting in rebel-held districts in the eastern Ghouta, the agricultural belt around Damascus
- 02:45: Opposition posts Facebook report of "chemical shelling" in Ein Tarma area of Ghouta
- 02:47: Second opposition report says chemical weapons used in Zamalka area of Ghouta
- Unverified video footage shows people being treated on pavements in the dark and in makeshift hospital
- Reports say chemical weapons were used in Ghouta towns of Irbin, Jobar, Zamalka, and Ein Tarma as well as Muadhamiya in the western Ghouta, but this is not confirmed
- Syrian government acknowledges military offensive in the Ghouta but denies chemical weapons use
He said any use of chemical weapons would violate international law and should result in "serious consequences for the perpetrator".
British Foreign Secretary William Hague says he is holding discussions with Mr Ban, John Kerry and the foreign minister of Qatar to press for immediate access for the UN team.
"Every day without UN access is a day in which evidence can deteriorate or be hidden by those responsible," Mr Hague said in a tweet on Friday.
In a later televised statement, he said it seemed like the Syrian government had "something to hide" over the reported chemical attack.
"We do believe this is a chemical attack by the Assad regime on a large scale, but we would like the United Nations to be able to assess that."
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has warned that France must react "with force" if the use of chemical weapons was confirmed.
The Syrian government has described the allegations that it sanctioned the use of chemical weapons as "illogical and fabricated".
But according to Reuters news agency, Syrian anti-government activists are trying to smuggle tissue samples from victims' bodies to the UN inspectors to prove their claims.
"The UN team spoke with us and since then we prepared samples of hair, skin and blood and smuggled them back into Damascus with trusted couriers," activist Abu Nidal told Reuters.
'Traumatised'Meanwhile, the UN says children now make up half of all refugees fleeing Syria. About three-quarters of those children are under 11.
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The BBC's Jim Muir meets the Syrian children living on the streets of Beirut
"The youth of Syria are losing their homes, their family members and their futures," said UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres.
Most of the children have arrived in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, the UN says, and increasingly Syrians are fleeing to North Africa and Europe.
But with its appeal for Syria less than 40% funded, the two UN agencies say they are struggling to meet the needs of the refugees.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the agencies are now warning of a lost generation that are ill-equipped to bring peace and stability to their country in the future.
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