Syria: UN Confirms Use Of Chemical Arms

UN mission head Ake Sellstrom

United Nations inspectors have determined that chemical weapons may have been used as many as five times in the Syrian conflict.

However, it was not in the mandate of the inspectors to offer a conclusion on whether government or opposition forces were responsible.

The report published December 12 said the nerve agent sarin was used in the August 21 attack in Ghouta.

World outrage over that attack led to the U.S.-Russian agreement to destroy Syrian government chemical weapons stockpiles by mid-2014.

The report said evidence indicates chemical weapons were also probably used in Khan al Assal, Jobar, Saraqueb, and Ashrafiah Sahnaya between March and late August.

The report from chief UN investigator Ake Sellstrom said investigators could not corroborate the alleged use of chemical weapons in two other locations.

Based on reports from AP, AFP and Reuters