The US is asking the UN Security Council to set up a new inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria following reports of suspected chlorine use in Eastern Ghouta, according to a draft resolution obtained by AFP on Thursday (March 1st).

The US push to establish the new panel comes three months after Russia killed off a previous UN-led investigation by vetoing the renewal of its mandate, arguing that the probe was flawed.

A draft resolution presented to the council on Wednesday would establish the UN Independent Mechanism of Investigation (UNIMI) for a period of one year "to identify perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks" in Syria.

A council diplomat said it was unlikely, however, that Russia would back the measure, which calls for investigators to operate in "an impartial, independent, and professional manner".

In January, Russia presented its own draft resolution setting up a new panel, but Western powers expressed reservations, saying its proposal would give the Syrian regime an upper hand over any investigation of attacks on its territory.

It was unclear when the US or Russian draft resolutions on the Syrian chemical inquiry would come to a vote.

The Syrian regime has denied using chemical weapons and Russia, its ally in the war, has questioned UN findings that it carried out sarin and chlorine attacks.

UN diplomats met Thursday to discuss the US-drafted measure, which comes days after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a child suffocated to death and 13 other people fell ill from a suspected chlorine attack.