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| Syria war: 'Possible chlorine' at Douma attack site - watchdog | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A chemical weapons watchdog says chlorine may have been used in April's attack on the Syrian city of Douma. | |
| The interim report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said "various chlorinated organic chemicals" had been found but there was no evidence of nerve agents. | The interim report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said "various chlorinated organic chemicals" had been found but there was no evidence of nerve agents. |
| Dozens of civilians were killed in the attack on the rebel-held town in the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus. | Dozens of civilians were killed in the attack on the rebel-held town in the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus. |
| The Syrian government denies carrying out any chemical weapons attacks. | The Syrian government denies carrying out any chemical weapons attacks. |
| Following the Douma attack, US, British and French warplanes launched strikes against government military targets. | Following the Douma attack, US, British and French warplanes launched strikes against government military targets. |
| The OPCW was recently given new powers by member states to name those responsible for using chemical weapons. Its investigation into the Douma attack is continuing. | The OPCW was recently given new powers by member states to name those responsible for using chemical weapons. Its investigation into the Douma attack is continuing. |
| Medics in Douma reported on 7 April that more than 500 patients had been brought to medical facilities with symptoms suggesting exposure to a chemical agent. | Medics in Douma reported on 7 April that more than 500 patients had been brought to medical facilities with symptoms suggesting exposure to a chemical agent. |
| Rescue workers also reported a strong smell of chlorine in the air following an air strike that targeted two locations in Douma. | Rescue workers also reported a strong smell of chlorine in the air following an air strike that targeted two locations in Douma. |
| The OPCW sent a fact-finding mission to Douma about a week later. | The OPCW sent a fact-finding mission to Douma about a week later. |
| "Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites," the preliminary report said. | "Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites," the preliminary report said. |
| "Work by the team to establish the significance of these results is on-going. The FFM (fact-finding mission) team will continue its work to draw final conclusions." | "Work by the team to establish the significance of these results is on-going. The FFM (fact-finding mission) team will continue its work to draw final conclusions." |
| The report said two samples from gas cylinders recovered at the scene tested positive for chlorine. | The report said two samples from gas cylinders recovered at the scene tested positive for chlorine. |
| Following the attack, a UN investigation said evidence pointed to the use of chlorine but that some people had exhibited symptoms more consistent with exposure to a nerve agent. | Following the attack, a UN investigation said evidence pointed to the use of chlorine but that some people had exhibited symptoms more consistent with exposure to a nerve agent. |
| The OPCW report, however, said that "no organophosphorous nerve agents or their degradation products were detected" at the sites. | The OPCW report, however, said that "no organophosphorous nerve agents or their degradation products were detected" at the sites. |
| The five-year siege of the Eastern Ghouta, an agricultural region outside the capital where at least 265,000 civilians lived, was the longest in modern history. | The five-year siege of the Eastern Ghouta, an agricultural region outside the capital where at least 265,000 civilians lived, was the longest in modern history. |
| It came to an end in April, after a two-month offensive by pro-government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, that decimated homes, businesses and hospitals and reportedly left more than 1,700 men, women and children dead. | It came to an end in April, after a two-month offensive by pro-government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, that decimated homes, businesses and hospitals and reportedly left more than 1,700 men, women and children dead. |