UN inspector says team will return to Syria within weeks

Investigation would focus on which side used chemical weapons in a number of reported incidents

By AP and ToI Staff 18 September 2013, 4:33 pm

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UN inspectors are escorted by Syrian rebels in Damascus in August, 2013 (photo credit: AP/United media office of Arbeen)

STOCKHOLM — The chief UN chemical weapons inspector says his team will return to Syria “within weeks” to complete the investigation it had started before the August 21 gas attack of other alleged chemical weapons attacks in the country.

Ake Sellstrom told The Associated Press Wednesday the team will evaluate “allegations of chemical weapons use from both sides, but perhaps mainly from the Syrian government’s side.”

He does not currently think there is a need for more investigations of the August 21 attacks, he said, but “if we receive any additional information it will be included next time we report.”

He declined to specify where the inspectors would go or which specific events they would look more closely at.

UN inspectors said Monday there is “clear and convincing evidence” that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale in an attack last month in Syria that killed hundreds of people. However, due in part to the limited scope of their mandate, they did not speculate as to which side used them.