Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, December 4, 2012. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird warned the Syrian regime Tuesday there would be grave international consequences if it deploys chemical and biological weapons against its civilian population.

On a conference call from Morocco, Baird told reporters he takes the threat "incredibly seriously" and has been concerned for months the stockpiled weapons could be used against the Syrian people or the country's neighbours, or could fall into the hands of terrorists.

Baird is in the North African country for the Friends of Syria meeting, which is attended by representatives from over 100 countries.