Wednesday, an NGO reported.

"This figure will surely go up. The raids and bombardment are continuing," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which gathers its information from activists and medics.

It did not comment on allegations by anti-regime activists that the army

had used chemical weapons.

According to activists, almost 500 people died of gas inhalation and

exposure to chemical weapons.

Syrian authorities, meanwhile, denied charges that the army used chemical arms.

"Reports on the use of chemical weapons in (the suburbs of) Ghouta are

totally false," state news agency SANA said. "It's an attempt to prevent the UN commission of inquiry from carrying out its mission."

Al-Watan newspaper said the Syrian government had "pledged to cooperate and facilitate the work" of a UN team of chemical inspectors who launched a mission in the country on Tuesday.