Al Arabya: There are no confirmed reports that President Bashar al-Assad is preparing to use chemical weapons, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says in a press conference while visiting Syrian refugee camps in Turkey on Friday.

Ban reiterated his warning, saying that it would be an “outrageous crime” with huge consequences if the Assad regime decides to use chemical weapons against civilians, Reuters reported.

His visit comes amid international warnings to the Assad regime not to use chemical weapons to combat the armed revolt in the war-ravaged country.

Speaking in Iraq on Thursday, Ban said Assad should be “brought to justice” if his Damascus regime uses chemical weapons against its own people.

“I have expressed my gravest concerns to (the) government of Syria and I have sent a letter directed to President Assad a couple of days ago,” Ban told a news conference in Baghdad.

“I have warned that in any case, if chemical weapons is used, then whoever (it) may be will have to be brought to justice, and it will create serious consequences to those people,” the U.N. secretary general said.