UN to launch Syria chemical weapons inquiry

UN to launch Syria chemical weapons inquiry

The United Nations will
launch an independent investigation into whether chemical
weapons have been used in the Syria conflict, UN leader Ban
Ki-Moon said Thursday.
 Ban said the "difficult mission" would focus on a Syrian
government allegation that opposition rebels fired chemical
weapons missiles in an attack this week.
 But France, Britain and the United States called on Ban to
widen the inquiry to include allegations made against
President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
 The Syrian government has accused opposition rebels of
using chemical weapons in an attack at Khan al-Assal near
Aleppo on Tuesday. The opposition said the government staged
the attack and also used banned chemical weapons in another
incident near Damascus.
 "I have decided to conduct a United Nations investigation
into the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria," Ban told
reporters in his office.
 "I intend for this investigation to start as soon as
practically possible," he added.
 The UN leadership is working with the Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which oversees the Chemical
Weapons Convention, and the World Health Organisation to set
up the inquiry.
 "The investigation mission is to look into the specific
incident brought to my attention by the Syrian government," he
said.
 "I am, of course, aware that there are other allegations
of similar cases involving the reported use of chemical
weapons." Ban would not take questions on whether the inquiry
could be extended.
 "In discharging its mandate of an investigation mission,
full cooperation from all parties will be essential. I stress
that this includes unfettered access," Ban insisted.
 "My announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder
that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity,"
said Ban. "The international community needs full assurance
that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded."
 Diplomats and UN officials have stressed that still no
formal proof has been given that chemical weapons were used by
either side.
 Britain and France sent a letter to Ban calling for a
wider inquiry that includes accusations that chemical weapons
were also used at Ataybah near Damascus and another incident
at Homs on December 23.
 "Given the gravity of these allegations, we judge it
essential that all the pertinent facts concerning these
allegations are swiftly investigated."
 The letter sent by the French and British missions to the
UN called for "an urgent investigation into all allegations".
 US ambassador Susan Rice said the United States also
"supports an investigation that pursues any and all credible
allegations of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria."
 "We demand the full cooperation of the Assad regime in
particular, as well as Syrian authorities throughout the
country, including by providing full and unfettered access to
all relevant individuals and locations," Rice said in a
statement