The UN Security Council on Wednesday underlined the need for "clarity" on the alleged use of chemical weapons in the eastern suburbs of Damascus, the Syrian capital, saying that "the situation has to be followed carefully."

Maria Cristina Perceval, permanent representative of Argentina to the United Nations and the council president for August, made the remarks at the end of an emergency council meeting on Syria.

"We can say that there is a strong concern among council members about allegations in a general sense that there must be clarity on what happened and that the situation has to be followed carefully," Perceval told reporters.

The closed-door meeting, which began at around 3:20 p.m. EDT ( 1920 GMT) on Wednesday, heard a briefing by Deputy UN Secretary- General Jan Eliasson.