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Turkey claims evidence of Syrian chemical weapons use Turkey claims evidence of Syrian chemical weapons use
(about 4 hours later)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told US media he has evidence that Syria employed chemical weapons against opposition forces.Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told US media he has evidence that Syria employed chemical weapons against opposition forces.
He cited as proof the discovery of missile remains and added that Syrian patients brought to Turkey "were wounded by these chemical weapons". He cited the discovery of missile remains and Syrian patients showing signs of wounds from chemical weapons.
Mr Erdogan rejected the idea that the weapons could have been used by rebels. Similarly, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he now believed there was "strong evidence" of Syria using gas.
This contradicts an earlier claim by a UN expert who said there were "concrete suspicions" that rebels used nerve gas. The White House previously said it had "varying degrees of confidence" that Syria had used chemical weapons.
Carla del Ponte, who serves on the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said testimony from victims strongly suggested that opposition fighters had used sarin, an extremely potent chemical nerve agent - although there was "no incontrovertible proof". Last month, President Barack Obama warned that such a development was a "red line" for possible intervention, but said existent intelligence did not represent sufficient proof.
However, the commission later stressed that it had "not reached conclusive findings" as to their use by any parties. Mr Kerry's latest remarks, made on Friday during a live video discussion with Google+ users , appeared to strike a more resolute note.
"This fight is about the terrible choices that the Assad regime has made with its willingness to kill anywhere... to use gas, which we believe there is strong evidence of use of," he said.
Red line 'crossed'Red line 'crossed'
Mr Erdogan said he did not think that the rebels had access to chemical weapons. Earlier, Mr Erdogan told US media he believed Syria had crossed the red line "a long time ago".
"There is no way I can believe in this now," he said in an interview with American broadcaster NBC. He said Turkish intelligence had determined that the Syrian government had used at least 200 chemical missiles.
"First of all, how are they going to obtain this? And who will give this to them? But if it exists, we are against this. We are against whoever holds the weapons."
He said Turkish intelligence had determined that the government of President Bashar al-Assad had used at least 200 chemical missiles.
"We have the remainders of these missiles, there are pictures and then there are intelligence reports," he said."We have the remainders of these missiles, there are pictures and then there are intelligence reports," he said.
"And there are patients who are brought to our hospitals who were wounded by these chemical weapons.""And there are patients who are brought to our hospitals who were wounded by these chemical weapons."
He did not give details on the type of chemical weapons he believed Syria had used.He did not give details on the type of chemical weapons he believed Syria had used.
Last month, the White House said intelligence agencies believed "with varying degrees of confidence" that Syria has used chemical weapons against rebels. The Turkish leader, who is due to meet Mr Obama next week, called on the US to take stronger action.
President Barack Obama warned that chemical weapons use would be a "red line" for possible intervention, but said existent intelligence did not represent sufficient proof. "We want the United States to assume more responsibilities and take further steps," he said.
The Turkish prime minister, however, said he believed that Syria had crossed the red line "a long time ago". Mr Erdogan rejected the idea that the weapons could have been used by rebels.
Mr Erdogan, who is due to meet Mr Obama next week, called on the US to take stronger action. "How are they going to obtain this? And who will give this to them?" he said.
"We want the United States to assume more responsibilities and take further steps. And what sort of steps they will take, we are going to talk about this". This contradicted an earlier claim by a UN expert who said there were "strong, concrete suspicions" that rebels used nerve gas.
Carla del Ponte, who serves on the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said testimony from victims strongly suggested that opposition fighters had used sarin, an extremely potent chemical nerve agent - although there was "no incontrovertible proof".
However, the commission later stressed that it had "not reached conclusive findings" as to their use by any parties.
'Limited but persuasive''Limited but persuasive'
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron has held talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Syria's closest allies.Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron has held talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Syria's closest allies.
Mr Cameron said the two countries had made "real progress" in discussions he described as "substantive, purposeful and frank".Mr Cameron said the two countries had made "real progress" in discussions he described as "substantive, purposeful and frank".
He said they had a "common interest" in stabilising Syria and preventing the growth of extremism.He said they had a "common interest" in stabilising Syria and preventing the growth of extremism.
Mr Cameron also welcomed a recent agreement by Russia to convene an international conference to find a political solution to the crisis.Mr Cameron also welcomed a recent agreement by Russia to convene an international conference to find a political solution to the crisis.
The conference will try to persuade Mr Assad and the opposition to accept the establishment of a transitional government.The conference will try to persuade Mr Assad and the opposition to accept the establishment of a transitional government.
In a separate development, a senior US official confirmed that the US ambassador to Syria briefly crossed into Syrian territory on Thursday, more than a year after the US embassy suspended operations in Damascus and pulled out its diplomats.In a separate development, a senior US official confirmed that the US ambassador to Syria briefly crossed into Syrian territory on Thursday, more than a year after the US embassy suspended operations in Damascus and pulled out its diplomats.
The official told the BBC that Robert Ford was at the Syria-Turkey border to help deliver meals to Syrian opposition forces and discuss "the situation on the ground".The official told the BBC that Robert Ford was at the Syria-Turkey border to help deliver meals to Syrian opposition forces and discuss "the situation on the ground".
The official added that the visit had no legal implications because Washington "has always continued to say that he remains the ambassador to the Syrian people, and that the regime is illegitimate".The official added that the visit had no legal implications because Washington "has always continued to say that he remains the ambassador to the Syrian people, and that the regime is illegitimate".
More than 70,000 people are believed to have died since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011.More than 70,000 people are believed to have died since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011.