The European Union (EU) on Wednesday called for an immediate probe into a reported chemical attack in Syria.

A spokesperson of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the media that the EU was gravely concerned over reports of possible use of chemical weapons by Syrian government forces.

Earlier on Wednesday, pro-opposition activists claimed that the Syrian government troops had used chemical weapons in their attacks against rebel-held areas in the eastern countryside of the Damascus and said hundreds of people were killed.

The Syrian government denied the allegations, saying such accusations were part of a "dirty" media war against Syria.

The spokesperson said the accusations should be "thoroughly and immediately" investigated, underlining the use of chemical weapons was unacceptable. Endi