Syria blocking chemical weapons inspectors, UN head says

Damascus had asked UN to probe alleged attack on Aleppo area village, but world body wants to expand mission

18 April 2013, 6:14 am

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Illustrative photo: A Syrian victim who suffered an alleged chemical attack at Khan al-Assal village -- according to SANA -- receives treatment by doctors at a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, March 19. (photo credit: AP/SANA)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Syria has still not allowed a team of experts into the country despite its call for the United Nations to investigate alleged chemical weapons use by rebels, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

Syria has asked the UN to investigate a chemical weapons attack in March on the village of Khan al-Assal outside of Aleppo, which the regime blames on rebels and the rebels blame on regime forces.

Ban is urging the Syrian government to accept an expanded UN probe into alleged chemical weapons use, saying he has concluded that a claimed attack in Homs in December also warrants investigation.

Syria’s government wants the investigation limited to the single Khan al-Assal incident and last week rejected the expanded investigation.

Britain and France had asked the UN to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in Khan al-Assal and another village, Ataybah, in the vicinity of Damascus, in March, as well as in the central city of Homs on December 23.

The inspection team is in Cyprus awaiting permission to enter Syria.

“The team of experts is ready to deploy as quickly as we have the Syrian government’s consent,” Ban said. “The mission is to be able to investigate all the allegations made by the member states. I have been urging the Syrian government to show flexibility.”

The secretary-general said “the mission will proceed with its fact-finding activities,” and additional information has been requested from the three governments.

UN diplomats say the chemical weapons experts are expected to visit camps for Syrian refugees, neighboring countries where Syrians have fled and possibly London and Paris to try to obtain information outside Syria. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been announced.