Sarin gas used in attacks in Syria,confirms UN

“On the basis of the evidence obtained during the investigation of the Ghouta incident,the conclusion is that chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic,also against civilians,including children,on a relatively large scale,” said the report by chief UN investigator Ake Sellstrom of Sweden.

“In particular,the environmental,chemical and medical samples we have collected provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used,” it said.

The report said the weather conditions on August 21 ensured that as many people as possible were injured or killed. Temperatures were falling between 2 am and 5 am,it said,which meant that air was not moving upwards but downwards toward the ground.

The results of Sellstrom’s investigation are not surprising. Several weeks ago US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that sarin had been used in the chemical attack on the Ghouta region. The United States said 1,400 people were killed,including more than 400 children.

“The United Nations Mission has now confirmed,unequivocally and objectively,that chemical weapons have been used in Syria,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council.

Ban said on Friday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “has committed many crimes against humanity,” though he did not say whether it was Assad’s forces or rebels who were behind the Ghouta attack.

Syria and Russia have blamed the August 21 attack on the rebels. The rebels,the US and other Western powers blame forces loyal to Assad for the Ghouta attack. It is not immediately clear whether any of the details in the report suggested culpability. Sellstrom’s mandate is limited to investigating the facts,not assigning blame.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius,however,said the UN report showed there was “no doubt” the Assad government was responsible for the chemical attack.

Ban told the council on Monday that 85 percent of the blood samples taken by investigators tested positive for sarin. Almost all the biomedical samples tested positive for exposure to sarin.

The UN confirmation of the use of sarin gas on Aug. 21 comes as France,Britain and the United States agreed at three-way Paris talks on Monday to seek a “strong and robust” UN resolution that sets precise and binding deadlines on removal of chemical weapons.

GROUND REPORT

Rouhani: Iran will accept any elected Syria ruler

TEHRAN: Iran’s President Hasan Rouhani says his country will accept anyone as ruler of Syria who is elected by the Syrian people. His remarks are a slight change of emphasis from comments by other Iranian leaders,which have often emphasized Iran’s support for its ally,Syrian President Bashar Assad.

AP

Russia: May be time to force Assad’s foes to talk peace

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday it may be time to consider efforts to force foes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to attend an international peace conference instead of just urging them to do so.

REUTERS