The United States has seen intelligence raising serious concerns that President Bashar al-Assad�s government is considering using chemical weapons, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday without elaborating on the nature of that intelligence.

�I think there is no question that we remain very concerned, very concerned that as the opposition advances – in particular on Damascus – that the regime might very well consider the use of chemical weapons,� Panetta told reporters in Washington.

�The intelligence that we have raises serious concerns that this is being considered.�

Several Western countries have issued coordinated warnings this week to Assad�s government not to use chemical weapons, many citing secret intelligence that U.S. officials have said showed Assad�s government might be preparing to use poison gas.

U.S. President Barack Obama has warned of consequences should Assad use the weapons, with the White House citing �contingency planning� when asked about the possibility of military intervention.

Panetta restated Obama�s warning of consequences for Assad on Thursday, adding: �I�m not going to speculate or comment on what those potential consequences would be.�

�But I think it�s fair enough to say that their use of those weapons would cross a red line for us,� he said.

(Reuters)