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August 27, 2013

U.N.: Still Time for Inspectors to Probe Chemical Allegations in Syria 
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The threat of a U.S. attack comes just as U.N. inspectors in Syria have
begun a probe into the chemical allegations. On Monday, the inspectors
met with Syrian victims and collected samples to determine if nerve
agents were used. The visit was initially delayed after the inspectors'
convoy came under sniper fire. A U.N. spokesperson said
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon still believes the inspectors can make a
proper assessment, even though five days passed before they were allowed
entry.

Farhan Haq: "Despite the passage of a number of days, the
Secretary-General is confident that the team will be able to obtain and
analyze evidence relevant for its investigation of the 21st of August
incident at Ghuta in Damascus. The team will complete its scientific
analysis as soon as possible. And the mission will seek to reconstruct
an evidence-based narrative of alleged incidents and other information
in accordance with its guidelines."

If confirmed, the attack in Ghouta would mark the world's worst chemical
weapons strike since 1988, when Iraq's Saddam Hussein gassed thousands
of Kurds in Halabja with U.S. complicity.

 

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