UN to probe use of chemical weapons in Syria [View all]

[pampango]

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, has announced that the global body will launch an investigation into allegations that chemical weapons were used near the northern city of Aleppo.

The UN chief said on Thursday the investigation would look into "the specific incident brought to my attention by the Syrian government".

Syria's government and rebels on Wednesday demanded an international inquiry into the deadly attack which both sides cite as an evidence that the other has used chemical weapons.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition said it also wanted an investigation into another incident of alleged chemical attack in Otaiba, a town near the capital city of Damascus. Ban said he was aware of other allegations of the reported use of chemical weapons, but did not make clear whether those would be part of the investigation.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201332113415509688.html

This is in response to this:

Syria rivals urge probe on 'chemical attack'

Syria's government and rebels have demanded an international inquiry into a deadly attack which both sides cite as an evidence that the other has used chemical weapons.

Bashar Jaafari, Syria's UN ambassador, announced on Wednesday that he had asked the UN to "form a specialised, independent and neutral technical mission" to investigate the use of chemical weapons by the opposition in the attack in the town of Khan al-Assal near northern city of Aleppo.

Denying any involvement into the incident, the rebels have accused the government forces of using the chemical weapons. They have also called for an inquiry into the deadly attack.

"The secretary general remains convinced that the use of chemical weapons by any party under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime," the UN spokesperson said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201332015140961717.html