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Syrian Rebels Accuse Government of Chemical Attack Syrian Rebels Accuse Government of Chemical Attack
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Anti-government activists accused the Syrian government of pounding areas east of Damascus, the capital, with rockets carrying poison gas early Wednesday, filling local hospitals with dead and wounded.BEIRUT, Lebanon — Anti-government activists accused the Syrian government of pounding areas east of Damascus, the capital, with rockets carrying poison gas early Wednesday, filling local hospitals with dead and wounded.
Amateur videos posted online showed men and children sprawled out on hospital beds and on tile floors, some not moving, while others were being treated by medics with hand-pump respirators. The source of the images could not immediately be verified and the government of President Bashar al-Assad denied using chemical weapons.Amateur videos posted online showed men and children sprawled out on hospital beds and on tile floors, some not moving, while others were being treated by medics with hand-pump respirators. The source of the images could not immediately be verified and the government of President Bashar al-Assad denied using chemical weapons.
The attacks came the day after a team sent to Syria by the United Nations to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use was to begin working. Numerous allegations of chemical weapons use have surfaced during the civil war between the forces of Mr. Assad and rebels seeking his ouster, but none have been verified by outside institutions.The attacks came the day after a team sent to Syria by the United Nations to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use was to begin working. Numerous allegations of chemical weapons use have surfaced during the civil war between the forces of Mr. Assad and rebels seeking his ouster, but none have been verified by outside institutions.
In London, the British government, which supports the rebels, said it would raise the reported chemical attacks with the United Nations Security Council, potentially broadening the diplomatic implications of the reported attack.
Unlike the videos often uploaded after government attacks, the images on Wednesday showed very little blood, as few of the patients appeared to have conventional injuries. Activists claimed that women were among the victims.Unlike the videos often uploaded after government attacks, the images on Wednesday showed very little blood, as few of the patients appeared to have conventional injuries. Activists claimed that women were among the victims.
In one video, medical workers were shown moving through what appeared to be a room full of apparently lifeless young men in their underclothing. Two others showed children, one of them motionless and staring, the other seeming to twitch uncontrollably.In one video, medical workers were shown moving through what appeared to be a room full of apparently lifeless young men in their underclothing. Two others showed children, one of them motionless and staring, the other seeming to twitch uncontrollably.
After months of negotiation with the Syrian government on access to the country, the United Nations said a team of inspectors would investigate three sites, including the village of Khan al-Assal near the northern city of Aleppo, where both sides accuse the other of a chemical attack on March 19 that killed dozens of people.After months of negotiation with the Syrian government on access to the country, the United Nations said a team of inspectors would investigate three sites, including the village of Khan al-Assal near the northern city of Aleppo, where both sides accuse the other of a chemical attack on March 19 that killed dozens of people.
The location of the other two sites has not been made public, and the United Nations team has said it would only seek to determine if chemical weapons were used, not to determine who used them.The location of the other two sites has not been made public, and the United Nations team has said it would only seek to determine if chemical weapons were used, not to determine who used them.
It was unclear whether the team would investigate the new reported attack. It issued no immediate comment.It was unclear whether the team would investigate the new reported attack. It issued no immediate comment.
Syrian state television continued with its normal morning programming, interviewing vendors at an outdoor market and hosting a talk show about astrology. A red banner flashed briefly at the bottom of the screen, saying there was “no truth whatsoever” to reports about the use of chemical weapons.Syrian state television continued with its normal morning programming, interviewing vendors at an outdoor market and hosting a talk show about astrology. A red banner flashed briefly at the bottom of the screen, saying there was “no truth whatsoever” to reports about the use of chemical weapons.
The state news service, SANA, also denied that chemical weapons had been used and accused news outlets reporting the allegations of being “partners in the shedding of Syrian blood and supporting terrorism.” It also said the reports sought to “divert the special committee for the investigation of chemical weapons from carrying out its mission.”The state news service, SANA, also denied that chemical weapons had been used and accused news outlets reporting the allegations of being “partners in the shedding of Syrian blood and supporting terrorism.” It also said the reports sought to “divert the special committee for the investigation of chemical weapons from carrying out its mission.”
An activist reached in the Damascus suburb of Erbeen via Skype said the attack began at 2 a.m., when rockets struck surrounding areas. He and his colleagues rushed to evacuate the wounded, and they had to break down doors of homes to get them out.An activist reached in the Damascus suburb of Erbeen via Skype said the attack began at 2 a.m., when rockets struck surrounding areas. He and his colleagues rushed to evacuate the wounded, and they had to break down doors of homes to get them out.
“I saw many children lying on beds as if they were sleeping, but unfortunately they were dead,” said the activist, who gave his name as Abu Yassin, adding that he believed the number of dead was in the hundreds.“I saw many children lying on beds as if they were sleeping, but unfortunately they were dead,” said the activist, who gave his name as Abu Yassin, adding that he believed the number of dead was in the hundreds.
“We thought this regime would not use chemical weapons, at least these days with the presence of the U.N. inspectors,” he said. “It is reckless. The regime is saying, ‘I don’t care.’ ”“We thought this regime would not use chemical weapons, at least these days with the presence of the U.N. inspectors,” he said. “It is reckless. The regime is saying, ‘I don’t care.’ ”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which follows the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts inside Syria, said tens of people were killed in the attacks on the suburbs of Zamalka, Ein Terma and Erbeen, all of which are east of Damascus and have a strong rebel presence.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which follows the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts inside Syria, said tens of people were killed in the attacks on the suburbs of Zamalka, Ein Terma and Erbeen, all of which are east of Damascus and have a strong rebel presence.
The group cited local activists as saying that the rockets had spread poison gas and called on the United Nations and other organizations to investigate the attacks and hold those responsible accountable under international law.The group cited local activists as saying that the rockets had spread poison gas and called on the United Nations and other organizations to investigate the attacks and hold those responsible accountable under international law.
The issue of chemical weapons is particularly significant because last year President Obama said their use would represent a “red line” that could lead to American military action. American officials in June said they believed that Assad’s forces had used chemical weapons “on a small scale” several times in the last year, but that did not lead to a substantive change to American involvement in the conflict. Russia, which has strongly backed Mr. Assad, last month accused rebel fighters of using the weapons in Khan al-Assal.The issue of chemical weapons is particularly significant because last year President Obama said their use would represent a “red line” that could lead to American military action. American officials in June said they believed that Assad’s forces had used chemical weapons “on a small scale” several times in the last year, but that did not lead to a substantive change to American involvement in the conflict. Russia, which has strongly backed Mr. Assad, last month accused rebel fighters of using the weapons in Khan al-Assal.
In a statement on Wednesday, the British foreign secretary, William Hague, said he was “deeply concerned by reports that hundreds of people, including children, have been killed in airstrikes and a chemical weapons attack on rebel-held areas near Damascus.”
“These reports are uncorroborated and we are urgently seeking more information. But it is clear that if they are verified, it would mark a shocking escalation in the use of chemical weapons in Syria,” he said, urging the Syrian government to allow the United Nations team currently in Syria “immediate access” to the location of the claimed attacks.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from London.