UN pushes Syria to allow investigation on chemical weapons attack

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked the Syrian Government to allow a team of experts to investigate the latest allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons and is sending one of his senior officials to Damascus in this regard.

“The Secretary General believes that the incidents reported yesterday needs to be investigated without delay,” Ban’s spokesperson told reporters in New York late Thursday. He added that the UN chief remains deeply troubled about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

A UN team is currently in Syria spending up to 14 days, with a possible extension, probing the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Government at Khan al-Asal, as well as two other allegations reported by Member States.

Ban is requesting that the team, led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom, be granted permission and access to “swiftly” investigate the incident, which occurred on the morning of August 21, 2013.

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