SHOTLIST:Pool - AP Clients Washington - Dec. 31. SOUNDBITE: President Obama / NO SUPER"And on Syria, let me just say this. We will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, engaging with the opposition, providing them with humanitarian aid, and working to a transition that's free of the Assad regime. And today, I want to make it clear to Assad and those under his command - the world is watching. The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable. If you make the tragic decision to use these weapons, there will be consequences, and you will be held accountable. We can not allow the 21st century to be darkened by the worst weapons of the 20h century." STORYLINE: President Barack Obama warned Syria on Monday that the use of chemical weapons would be "totally unacceptable" and that the country's leaders would be held accountable. Obama said that if Syrian President Bashar Assad made the "tragic mistake" of deploying chemical weapons, there would be consequences. Obama stopped short of detailing those consequences. Obama's comments came as U.S. officials said intelligence had detected Syrian movement of chemical weapons components in recent days. The White House said earlier Monday that it was increasingly concerned that the beleaguered regime in Syria might be considering use of chemical weapons against its own people and warned that doing so would "cross a red line." White House press secretary Jay Carney said U.S. officials were closely monitoring Syria's proliferation of sensitive materials and facilities, as opposition to the Syrian government grows. Obama spoke later Monday at a gathering on securing nuclear weapons materials.(****END****)