U.N. Questions Validity Of French ‘Evidence’ Of Syria’s Chemical Weapons Use


A man is brought to a hospital in the Syrian town of Khan al-Assal, southwest of Aleppo, where militants used chemical weapons for the first time in March 2013.

UN questions validity of French ‘evidence’ of Syria’s chemical weapons use (PressTV, June 6, 2013):

The United Nations has questioned the validity of what the French government says is “evidence” that the Syrian forces have used chemical weapons against militants.

French officials claimed on June 4 that they were in possession of “evidence,” based on laboratory tests, that proved nerve gas sarin had been used by the government forces in Syria.

sarinThe French government said it had handed the test results to a UN chemical weapons investigation team, which is led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom.

The UN said in a statement on Wednesday, “Yesterday in Paris, Mr. Sellstrom received additional information related to the reports of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria submitted by the government of France.”

The statement added that Sellstrom had cautioned that the “validity of the information is not ensured.”

France and the UK claim the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against foreign-backed militants operating in the country. Damascus strongly rejects the claim as “lies,” saying that the militants have used chemical weapons on several occasions, including an attack in the region of Khan al-Assal in the northwestern province of Aleppo, where over two dozen people died.

The foreign-sponsored militancy that has gripped Syria for more than two years has so far resulted in the killings of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel.

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