Theresa May agrees with Trump 'not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue' after suspected Syria attack

Both leaders condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ‘vicious disregard for human life’

Theresa May and Donald Trump discussed the suspected Syrian chemical attack on the phone (PA)

Theresa May has agreed with Donald Trump ”not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue” in the wake of a suspected attack on civilians in Syria, the White House said in a statement.

In order to uphold the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons, Downing Street said the prime minister agreed with the US president and french leader Emmanuel Macron on the need for the international community to “respond”.

The White House added that Mr Trump and Ms May condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s “vicious disregard for human life”.

The White House statement comes after Syria’s foreign minister said it had invited a mission from the international chemical weapons watchdog to investigate the reported attack in the rebel-held town of Douma. At least 40 people, including young children, are believed to have been killed.

On Monday the US president vowed to retaliate “forcefully” to the suspected chemical attacks, adding his administration will be “making some major decisions over the next 24 to 48 hours”.

After a phone conversation with Mr Trump and a separate discussion with Mr Macron, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “They agreed that reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria were utterly reprehensible and, if confirmed, represented further evidence of the Assad regime’s appalling cruelty against its own people and total disregard for its legal obligations not to use these weapons.

“They agreed that the international community needed to respond to uphold the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons. They agreed they would continue working closely together and with international partners to ensure that those responsible were held to account.”

The White House press secretary added: “President Donald J Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. Both leaders condemned Syrian President Assad’s vicious disregard for human life. The president and prime minister agreed not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue.”

Earlier on Tuesday the prime minister sidestepped questions, during a visit to Cambridge, about whether Britain would be involved in any military action against Assad in the coming days.

But she added: “This attack that took place in Douma is a barbaric attack. Obviously we are working urgently with our allies and partners to assess what has happened on the ground.

“If this is the responsibility of Assad’s regime in Syria then it’s yet another example of the brutality and brazen disregard for their people.”