UN Officials To Travel To Syria To Discuss Alleged Chemical Attacks

The head of the UN chemical-arms team, Ake Sellstrom

Two UN officials will travel to Damascus to discuss their investigation of alleged chemical attacks in Syria.

The UN said that the head of the UN chemical-arms team, Ake Sellstrom, and UN disarmament chief Angela Kane have accepted an invitation from the Syrian government.

The announcement comes after the opposition Syrian National Coalition on July 10 rejected Russian claims that Syrian rebels made sarin nerve gas and used it in a deadly chemical weapon attack outside Aleppo in March.

Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said earlier that the accusation was based on Russian scientific analysis.

The incident at Khan al-Assal in the northern province of Aleppo killed more than two dozen people.

The government and rebels have each blamed the other for what they say was an attack involving chemical weapons.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP