The UK is to put a resolution to the UN Security Council later on Wednesday"authorising necessary measures to protectcivilians" in Syria.

The resolution will be put forward at a meeting of the five permanent members of the council, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter. Earlier a team of UN weapons inspectors resumed work probing an alleged chemical weapons attack on 21 August. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appealed on the council to take action. "The body interested with maintaining international peace and security cannot be 'missing in action'," Mr Ban said. "The council must at last find the unity to act. It must use its authority for peace," he went on. "We've always said we want the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities on Syria," Mr Cameron said in another message. "Today they have an opportunity to do that," he said. He also said the draft resolution would condemn the "chemical weapons attack by Assad".