Russia to blame on Syria chemical weapons attack

RUSSIA ultimately bears the blame for repeated chemical weapons attacks in Syria, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday about an attack by the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad in the town of Douma, a besieged town in eastern Ghouta, that killed as many as 80 people and injured hundreds more.

Russia last year vetoed a move by the Security Council to investigate Syria's use of chemical weapons after the regime killed 90 civilians with a sarin nerve agent at Khan Sheikhoun.

"It is of great concern that Russia would choose this opportunity to veto a strong statement or call to action," Ms Bishop told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"To that extent, I agree with the US State Department and the US administration that says Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the targeting of countless Syrians with chemical weapons."

She said Russia, which was given responsibility for ending Syria's chemical weapons regime last year, had the ability to get a unanimous outcome in the Security Council but by using its veto was preventing action being taken to stop the conflict.

Australia had been concerned for some time that the Syrian conflict could broaden, and Ms Bishop said that now appeared to be the case.

US President Donald Trump warned on Monday "nothing's off the table" in terms of the US response to the latest attack in Ghouta and said Russia "may" bear responsibility.

"Everybody's gonna pay a price," he said.

Ms Bishop said any request for Australia to join any action against the Syrian regime would be assessed on its merits.