UN Security Council
UN Security CouncilReuters

The United Nations Security Council will meet twice on Monday to discuss the deadly chemical attack in Syria, Reuters reported.

The Council will meet twice following rival requests by Russia and the United States, the report said.

Russia called for a meeting of the 15-member council on "international threats to peace and security."

A minute later the United States, France, Britain, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Peru and Ivory Coast called for a meeting to discuss the chemical weapons attack in Syria.

"The Security Council has to come together and demand immediate access for first responders, support an independent investigation into what happened, and hold accountable those responsible for this atrocious act," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a statement on Sunday.

The attack, which occurred in the city of Douma, east of the capital Damascus, involved Syrian government warplanes, and according to anti-Assad monitoring groups, included the use of sarin nerve gas.

Casualty reports run as high as 150 dead with 1,000 more injured from the suspected chemical weapon attack.

Earlier on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned the Syrian government it would pay a “big price” for the suspected chemical weapons attack.

“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria,” tweeted Trump.

The president also singled out Syria’s allies, Iran and Russia, for criticism, and made explicit mention of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!”

Haley warned last month that if the UN Security Council fails to act on Syria, Washington "remains prepared to act if we must," just as it did last year when it bombed a Syrian government air base over a deadly chemical weapons attack.

The council president for April, Peru, initially scheduled a meeting on the chemical attack for Monday morning and a meeting on the Russian request for Monday afternoon, noted Reuters. However, diplomats said Russia was insisting its meeting be held first because its request was made first.