UNITED NATIONS, Aug 22 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked the Syrian government on Thursday to allow U.N. inspectors to investigate the latest alleged gas attack and grant them access to the site in the suburbs of Damascus, the United Nations said.

"The Secretary-General believes that the incidents reported yesterday need to be investigated without delay," Ban's press office said in a statement. "A formal request is being sent by the United Nations to the Government of Syria in this regard. He expects to receive a positive response without delay."

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau and Michelle NicholS)

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