Toxic agents found during Syria chemical probe-UN Disarmament Chief


A fact-finding mission (FFM) in Syria has found evidence of sulfur mustard and a sarin-like substance in samples taken from two separate alleged chemical attacks.

That's what the UN disarmament chief, Izumi Nakamitsu, told members of the Security Council on Tuesday.

UN-recognized chemical weapons watchdog OPCW oversees the deployment of the FFM.

The UN cannot be neutral when it comes to the issue of ongoing allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs urged on Tuesday.

This was Izumi Nakamitsu's first briefing to the Security Council since her appointment in March.

Following an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held area in Damascus last September, the OPCW opened an investigation into the incident and deployed a fact-finding mission to the area.

And on 4 April this year, the OPCW authorised another probe into an incident in Khan Shaykhoun, where 80 people were killed and 300 injured from a suspected sarin gas attack.

Members of the probe conducted interviews, collected testimonies and reviewed documents, as well as information provided by the Syrian authorities.

They are now in the process of examining and analysing all the material and information collected, Ms Nakamitsu stressed.


SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations/GBCONLINE