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Syria chemical weapons inspection team not to investigate new claims Syria chemical weapons claims need referral from state body, say inspectors
(about 4 hours later)
The international body tasked with destroying Syria's chemical weapons arsenal says it has not been asked to investigate new opposition claims that regime troops have used banned chemicals on rebel groups in at least three attacks since January. The international body tasked with destroying Syria's chemical weapons arsenal says it will investigate new opposition allegations that regime forces have used banned chemicals in at least three attacks since January if the claims are referred by an appropriate state authority.
The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it would need a referral from a state signatory to a treaty banning the use of such weapons before looking at the new allegations, which come amid a protracted withdrawal of Syria's 1,200 tonnes of sarin, mustard gas and the precursors used to make them. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it would need a referral from a state signatory to the treaty banning the use of such weapons before looking at the claims, which come amid a protracted withdrawal of Syria's 1,200 tonnes of sarin, mustard gas and the precursors used to make them.
A senior Israeli defence official said earlier this week that new chemical attacks had taken place in the Damascus countryside. The claim supported complaints by rebel groups in Harasta that at least three people had been killed in late March, with several dozen more taken ill, after shells landing near them discharged noxious fumes. A senior Israeli defence official said earlier this week that new chemical attacks had taken place in the suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus. The claim supported complaints by rebel groups in Harasta that at least three people had been killed in late March, with several dozen more taken ill, after shells landing near them discharged noxious fumes.
Israel concluded the effects were not caused by sarin or mustard gas. It said an industrial-strength substance, such as a pesticide, could have been to blame. Britain has also said it is investigating the claims. Israel concluded the effects were not caused by sarin or mustard gas, but could have come from an industrial-strength substance, such as a pesticide. The UK said it was also investigating the claims.
The Syrian opposition leadership on Friday repeated a demand that the claims be examined, but as a non-state actor has no sway over the OPCW, which has so far supervised the surrender of 53% of Syria's arsenal. On Friday, the Syrian opposition leadership repeated its demand for the claims be examined. But as a non-state body it has no sway over the OPCW, which has so far overseen the surrender of 53% of Syria's arsenal.
Monzer Akbik, a senior opposition official, said: "The regime repeatedly uses chemical weapons on Syrian civilians, so many can testify to this. And with the regime way behind on resolution 2118 on chemical weapons removal, and constantly violating humanitarian resolution 2139 with its barrel bombs and starvation campaigns, it is time for the international community to start taking seriously their responsibility to protect Syrian civilians." Monzer Akbik, a senior opposition official, said: "The regime repeatedly uses chemical weapons on Syrian civilians, so many can testify to this. And with the regime way behind on [UN security council] resolution 2118 on chemical weapons removal, and constantly violating humanitarian resolution 2139 with its barrel bombs and starvation campaigns, it is time for the international community to start taking seriously their responsibility to protect Syrian civilians."
The use of chemical weapons has been one of the most contentious aspects of the Syrian war. A devastating attack in the Damascus countryside last August left up to 1,300 people dead and pushed the US close a military strike against the Assad regime, which was strongly suspected of being responsible. The use of chemical weapons has been one of the most contentious aspects of the Syrian war. An attack in the Damascus countryside last August left up to 1,300 people dead and pushed the US close a military strike against the Assad regime, which was strongly suspected of being responsible.
The strike was averted after Russia brokered a deal for Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian leader, to surrender chemical weapons, the existence of which had until then been a closely guarded secret. The OPCW was then tasked with handling the transfer of the chemicals to ships now moored in the port of Latakia in Syria's northwest. The chemicals will be transferred to ships with specialised facilities that will render them safe for disposal. The strike was averted after Russia brokered a deal for President Bashar al-Assad to surrender chemical weapons, the existence of which had until then been a closely guarded secret. The OPCW was then tasked with handling the transfer of the chemicals to ships now moored in Latakia, north-west Syria. The chemicals will be transferred to ships with specialised facilities that will render them safe for disposal.
UN officials said the chemical compound of the sarin used in the mass attack matched that of the supply held by the Syrian regime. But the 30 June deadline for the destruction of the entire arsenal – set down by the security council in a rare moment of unanimity following the deaths in chemical weapons attacks last August – is beginning to look seriously in doubt. UN officials said the chemical compound of the sarin used in this attack matched the supply held by the Syrian regime.
Syria's government says almost all the remaining chemical weapons and precursors will be delivered to Latakia on 13 April and that the material at the last, most precariously located, site will be delivered towards the end of the month.
"The Syrians are in control of the timeline. They have committed most recently that they will deliver the chemical weapons to Latakia no later than 27 April. We would like to see them meet that commitment," Rear Admiral Robert Burke, director of operations at US naval forces in Europe and Africa, told the Guardian.