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| Syria war: Chlorine likely used in Douma attack - OPCW | Syria war: Chlorine likely used in Douma attack - OPCW |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The global chemical weapons watchdog has concluded chlorine is likely to have been used in an attack on the Syrian town of Douma last April. | The global chemical weapons watchdog has concluded chlorine is likely to have been used in an attack on the Syrian town of Douma last April. |
| The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said data gave "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon took place". | The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said data gave "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon took place". |
| "This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine," it added, without assigning blame. | "This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine," it added, without assigning blame. |
| Medics said more than 40 people died in the attack on the then rebel-held area. | Medics said more than 40 people died in the attack on the then rebel-held area. |
| The US, UK and France accused Syrian government forces, who were besieging Douma, of using chemical weapons in the 7 April attack, and carried out air strikes in retaliation. | The US, UK and France accused Syrian government forces, who were besieging Douma, of using chemical weapons in the 7 April attack, and carried out air strikes in retaliation. |
| The Syrian government has denied ever using chemical weapons. Its ally Russia has said the attack was "staged" by rescue workers. | |
| The OPCW's conclusions were based on environmental samples, witness interviews and other data gathered by members of a fact-finding mission that visited a number of sites in Douma two weeks after the attack. | The OPCW's conclusions were based on environmental samples, witness interviews and other data gathered by members of a fact-finding mission that visited a number of sites in Douma two weeks after the attack. |
| The watchdog also said it found no evidence of the use of nerve agents in Douma, as some initial reports suggested, nor any evidence to support the government's claim that a local facility was being used by rebel fighters to produce chemical weapons. | The watchdog also said it found no evidence of the use of nerve agents in Douma, as some initial reports suggested, nor any evidence to support the government's claim that a local facility was being used by rebel fighters to produce chemical weapons. |
| In June, the OPCW was given new powers to assign blame for chemical attacks. However, it was not the mandate of the fact-finding team sent to Douma to do so. |