(AP) The Syrian government has dismissed U.S. statements it used chemical weapons as "full of lies."



A statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry in Damascus says the U.S. is resorting to "cheap tactics" and fabrications to justify Obama's decision to arm the rebels.



Friday's statement was the first official Syrian response to the Obama administration's decision to authorize sending weapons to Syrian rebels.



The U.S. also announced Thursday it had conclusive evidence that President Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against opposition forces.