Pretoria - A United Nations team, led by Swedish scientist Dr Åke Sellström, is this morning preparing to conduct on-site fact-finding activities at a site near Damascus, where it is alleged chemical weapons were used.
The UN mission secured permission for the probe after Syria reached an agreement on Sunday with the United Nations, a day after the arrival of the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, who flew in to press for expanding the mission of the UN chemical weapon investigation team.
The Syrian government has agreed to provide the necessary cooperation for on-site investigations, including the observance of the cessation of hostilities at related locations of the chemical weapon incident.
The Syrian opposition accused the government forces of killing 1 300 people in recent chemical attacks, which was denied by the Syrian government.
Since fighting began in March 2011 between the Syrian government and opposition groups seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad as many as 100 000 people have been killed. Almost two million have fled to neighbouring countries and a further four million have been internally displaced. In addition, at least 6.8 million Syrians require urgent humanitarian assistance, half of whom are children. – SAnews.gov.za
