The Syrian Foreign Ministry stressed Monday that Syria will not use chemical weapons, "even if they existed," against its people under any circumstance.

The ministry's statement came in response to the recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who warned Monday Syrian President Bashar al-Assad not to use chemical weapons and said the United States was prepared to act if he ignored the warning.

"Syria has repeatedly stressed to the American side directly, or through the Russian friends, that it will not use such weapons, even if they existed, against its people under any circumstance," the ministry said, adding that Syria is defending its people against terrorism linked with al-Qaida "and supported by known countries, the foremost of which is the United States itself."

The ministry said the United States is known for fabricating such issues as it did in Iraq before the 2003 invasion.

It called on the United States to stop fabricating such claims that aim to mislead the public opinion in America and the world and distract attention from its own involvement in the Syrian crisis by political, financial and logistical support it provides for the armed groups.

Earlier in the day, Clinton said the use of chemical weapons " is a red line for the United States," adding that "I am not going to telegraph in any specifics what we would do in the event of credible evidence that the Assad administration has resorted to using chemical weapons against their own people. But suffice it to say we are certainly planning to take action if that eventuality were to occur."