4.42pm BST

Here's a summary of the main on Syria developments today:

• The United States said it did not rule out returning to the United Nations security council to secure a Syria resolution once UN inspectors complete a report on a chemical weapons attack, but also indicated that Arab countries were seeking a tough response. Speaking at a news conference in Paris after meeting key Arab foreign ministers, secretary of state John Kerry said they were leaning towards supporting a G20 statement calling called for a strong international response to the attack.

• Kerry also defended the release of graphic video of the aftermath of the attack as part of the Obama administration's campaign to win Congressional approval for a punitive response. "The vast majority of members of Congress, House and Senate, are undecided and that's why the videos are being shown and the briefings are taking place," he said.

• Barack Obama has urged Americans to back him in launching an attack on Syria. In his weekly video address the president said: "We cannot turn a blind eye to the images coming out of Syria. Failing to respond to this outrageous attack would increase the risk that chemical weapons could be used again."

• Bashar al-Assad has denied responsibility for last month's chemical attack. Speaking to CBS he said: "There has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people." New German intelligence reports suggest the attacks were carried out without Assad's consent.

• Pope Francis has again used his Sunday address to call for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria. "I invite you to keep on praying so that the violence and devastation in Syria stops and so that people work with renewed commitment for a just solution to this fratricidal conflict," the pope said.

• Activists claim jihadi rebels have regained control of Maaloula, a Christian village north-east of Damascus, with conflicting reports of who is in control. Video from a Russia Today film crew showed fierce fighting in the village, but it said the Syrian army were in control.

• The British government is "not gung-ho" about military action in Syria and understands public reluctance to get involved in the conflict, according to William Hague. But speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the foreign secretary insisted that doing nothing in response to chemical attacks by the Assad regime would pose a greater threat to the world.

• Two RAF jets were scrambled from their base in Cyprus last week to urgently investigate Syrian planes that had crossed into international airspace. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that unidentified planes legally crossed into Cypriot skies from the east of the country last Monday.

• The government has confirmed that British businesses were given licences to send potentially deadly chemicals to Syria in the build-up to the brutal conflict. The licences allowed the sale of the chemical for commercial use in cosmetics and healthcare products, and there is "no evidence that the chemicals were used in weapons programmes", a spokeswoman said.

• British voters oppose any military attack on Syria, even if it is proved beyond doubt that Assad’s government used chemical weapons on his own people, according to a new poll by the Sunday Telegraph. It also reveals that fewer than one in five voters believes Britain should join the United States in strikes on Syria, with almost half supporting restricting action to providing humanitarian aid to refugees.