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| Syrian government and rebels accuse each other of chemical attack | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rocket attacks in Syria's two main cities early on Tuesday that killed scores and injured dozens more drew a series of contradictory claims from rebel groups and regime officials that chemical weapons had caused the casualties. | Rocket attacks in Syria's two main cities early on Tuesday that killed scores and injured dozens more drew a series of contradictory claims from rebel groups and regime officials that chemical weapons had caused the casualties. |
| The allegations also led to a prompt international response, with Britain and the US reiterating their earlier warnings that the use of chemical weapons could lead to an intervention in Syria, and Russia backing the claim by Damascus that rebels had been responsible. | The allegations also led to a prompt international response, with Britain and the US reiterating their earlier warnings that the use of chemical weapons could lead to an intervention in Syria, and Russia backing the claim by Damascus that rebels had been responsible. |
| The rocket strikes hit the Khan al-Assel neighbourhood of Aleppo and the Damascus suburb of al-Atebeh, both of which are largely held by the opposition. Part of Khan al-Assel, however, remains contested after three weeks of battles. Loyalist troops as well as civilians were reported to be among those killed and wounded. | The rocket strikes hit the Khan al-Assel neighbourhood of Aleppo and the Damascus suburb of al-Atebeh, both of which are largely held by the opposition. Part of Khan al-Assel, however, remains contested after three weeks of battles. Loyalist troops as well as civilians were reported to be among those killed and wounded. |
| Between 15 and 25 people were killed in Aleppo, state media and rebel reports said. In al-Atebeh, an unknown number of people are believed to have suffered from respiratory distress, according to rebel groups who posted online footage of casualties from the alleged attack. | Between 15 and 25 people were killed in Aleppo, state media and rebel reports said. In al-Atebeh, an unknown number of people are believed to have suffered from respiratory distress, according to rebel groups who posted online footage of casualties from the alleged attack. |
| Washington, which has for the past six months claimed that only the use of chemical weapons could lead it to overturn its opposition to direct intervention in Syria, later said it had "no reason to believe" that rebels had been responsible, but was studying allegations that the regime may have been. | Washington, which has for the past six months claimed that only the use of chemical weapons could lead it to overturn its opposition to direct intervention in Syria, later said it had "no reason to believe" that rebels had been responsible, but was studying allegations that the regime may have been. |
| "We have no reason to believe that these allegations represent anything more than the regime's continued attempts to discredit the legitimate opposition and distract from its own atrocities committed against the Syrian people," said US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. | "We have no reason to believe that these allegations represent anything more than the regime's continued attempts to discredit the legitimate opposition and distract from its own atrocities committed against the Syrian people," said US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. |
| "We don't have any evidence to substantiate the regime's charge that the opposition even has CW [chemical weapons] capability," she said. | "We don't have any evidence to substantiate the regime's charge that the opposition even has CW [chemical weapons] capability," she said. |
| Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said the reports of a chemical weapon attack had not yet been "fully verified … But clearly if chemical weapons were used then that would be abhorrent and it would require a serious response from the international community," he said. | Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, said the reports of a chemical weapon attack had not yet been "fully verified … But clearly if chemical weapons were used then that would be abhorrent and it would require a serious response from the international community," he said. |
| UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said: "We're aware of the reports but we're not in a position to confirm them." | UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said: "We're aware of the reports but we're not in a position to confirm them." |
| Rebel groups in Aleppo strongly denied having carried out the attack. "These are our own people," a commander of the largest militia in the city, Liwa al-Tawheed, said via Skype. | Rebel groups in Aleppo strongly denied having carried out the attack. "These are our own people," a commander of the largest militia in the city, Liwa al-Tawheed, said via Skype. |
| "We do not have scuds, we do not have chemicals. If we had either we would not even use them on an enemy." | "We do not have scuds, we do not have chemicals. If we had either we would not even use them on an enemy." |
| In rural Damascus, opposition fighters who had endured days of artillery barrages as they tried to advance on the capital said an unknown number of militants and civilians suffocated after one such attack. | In rural Damascus, opposition fighters who had endured days of artillery barrages as they tried to advance on the capital said an unknown number of militants and civilians suffocated after one such attack. |
| The footage they uploaded could not be independently verified. However, one video appeared to show a young semi-conscious man with white fluid being siphoned from his mouth and nostrils. | The footage they uploaded could not be independently verified. However, one video appeared to show a young semi-conscious man with white fluid being siphoned from his mouth and nostrils. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, Syria's main opposition group elected an interim prime minster to run what amounts to an administration in exile, who promptly ruled out opening a dialogue with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. | Earlier on Tuesday, Syria's main opposition group elected an interim prime minster to run what amounts to an administration in exile, who promptly ruled out opening a dialogue with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. |
| Ghassan Hitto, an exile who had lived in the US for the past 30 years, narrowly won a ballot to lead the nascent political body, which has remained under pressure since its inception to offer an alternative to the totalitarian rule of the Assad regime. | Ghassan Hitto, an exile who had lived in the US for the past 30 years, narrowly won a ballot to lead the nascent political body, which has remained under pressure since its inception to offer an alternative to the totalitarian rule of the Assad regime. |
| His most pressing task will be to bring disparate rebel military groups under the control of a credible civilian leadership. | His most pressing task will be to bring disparate rebel military groups under the control of a credible civilian leadership. |
| Hitto, an IT executive, was elected from relative obscurity, having made his name in opposition circles over recent months in which he played a lead role in a burgeoning humanitarian effort that has led to increased supplies of aid delivered into northern Syria. | Hitto, an IT executive, was elected from relative obscurity, having made his name in opposition circles over recent months in which he played a lead role in a burgeoning humanitarian effort that has led to increased supplies of aid delivered into northern Syria. |
| However, another stated core goal of the interim administration – to unite opposition interests that have largely remained disparate and factionalised – remains unfulfilled, to the chagrin of Arab and western states who have conditioned their backing on clear lines of command and control being established. | However, another stated core goal of the interim administration – to unite opposition interests that have largely remained disparate and factionalised – remains unfulfilled, to the chagrin of Arab and western states who have conditioned their backing on clear lines of command and control being established. |
| Hitto's appointment generated little interest inside Syria, where rebel groups remain engaged in a bitter fight with regime forces for control of the country's key cities. Political efforts have been largely derided by the myriad opposition fighters, who claim they have done little to change the situation on the ground. | Hitto's appointment generated little interest inside Syria, where rebel groups remain engaged in a bitter fight with regime forces for control of the country's key cities. Political efforts have been largely derided by the myriad opposition fighters, who claim they have done little to change the situation on the ground. |
| With the civil war now into its third year and much of the nationwide battlefield now in stalemate, a consensus is though emerging in rebel circles that a more unified effort would be necessary to shift the balance in its favour. | With the civil war now into its third year and much of the nationwide battlefield now in stalemate, a consensus is though emerging in rebel circles that a more unified effort would be necessary to shift the balance in its favour. |
| In his first statement as interim leader, Hitto said: "We will work to return all Syrian refugees to the freed provinces." | In his first statement as interim leader, Hitto said: "We will work to return all Syrian refugees to the freed provinces." |
| He was referring to the rural north and east of the country, which have been in rebel hands for close to six months. In a direct message to Syrian military leaders, he said: "We urge all of the commanders in the regime's military to defect and join the civilians." | He was referring to the rural north and east of the country, which have been in rebel hands for close to six months. In a direct message to Syrian military leaders, he said: "We urge all of the commanders in the regime's military to defect and join the civilians." |
| Hitto also called for the opposition coalition to be given a seat at the United Nations and on other international bodies, such as the Arab League, which suspended Syria, a founding member of the organisation, after the violent state response to the popular uprising launched more than two years ago. | Hitto also called for the opposition coalition to be given a seat at the United Nations and on other international bodies, such as the Arab League, which suspended Syria, a founding member of the organisation, after the violent state response to the popular uprising launched more than two years ago. |
| Meanwhile, Assad last week told a Lebanese delegation that visited him in Damascus that the regime remained on the front foot militarily, despite some defeats in key parts of the country. He acknowledged the heavy economic toll that the war had taken on Syria, but insisted that it could ride out its troubles. | Meanwhile, Assad last week told a Lebanese delegation that visited him in Damascus that the regime remained on the front foot militarily, despite some defeats in key parts of the country. He acknowledged the heavy economic toll that the war had taken on Syria, but insisted that it could ride out its troubles. |
| The war has seen an exodus of at least 2 million people from Syria, around 1 million of whom are registered as refugees in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. | The war has seen an exodus of at least 2 million people from Syria, around 1 million of whom are registered as refugees in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. |
| It has also seen a steady escalation of military force, which has now led to virtually the full range of the Syrian military's arsenal being deployed. The use of large ballistic missiles, a relatively recent phenomenon, intensified on Tuesday, with residents of the eastern city of Deir Azzor claiming four landed there just before dusk. Aleppo and nearby rural communities have also been increasingly hit by missiles since January. | It has also seen a steady escalation of military force, which has now led to virtually the full range of the Syrian military's arsenal being deployed. The use of large ballistic missiles, a relatively recent phenomenon, intensified on Tuesday, with residents of the eastern city of Deir Azzor claiming four landed there just before dusk. Aleppo and nearby rural communities have also been increasingly hit by missiles since January. |