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UN chemical weapons inspectors asked to speed up Syria investigation UN chemical weapons inspectors asked to speed up Syria investigation
(17 days later)
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon asked chemical weapons inspectors on Sunday to speed up their investigation because of the "horrendous magnitude" of the alleged attack in Syria.United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon asked chemical weapons inspectors on Sunday to speed up their investigation because of the "horrendous magnitude" of the alleged attack in Syria.
Ban spoke by phone with the head of the team, Ake Sellström, the Swedish scientist who returned from Syria to The Hague on Saturday. The UN spokesman Martin Nesirky, briefing reporters at the headquarters in New York, said Ban had asked for the process of analysing samples taken from the site of the alleged 21 August attack, in Damascus, to be conducted as quickly as possible in keeping with the requirements of scientific stringency.Ban spoke by phone with the head of the team, Ake Sellström, the Swedish scientist who returned from Syria to The Hague on Saturday. The UN spokesman Martin Nesirky, briefing reporters at the headquarters in New York, said Ban had asked for the process of analysing samples taken from the site of the alleged 21 August attack, in Damascus, to be conducted as quickly as possible in keeping with the requirements of scientific stringency.
"The whole process will be done strictly adhering to the highest established standards of verification recognised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," Nesirky said."The whole process will be done strictly adhering to the highest established standards of verification recognised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," Nesirky said.
The samples are scheduled to be sent to laboratories in Finland and Sweden on Monday. On Friday, the UN estimated the process would take about two weeks but the findings now seem to likely to be delivered before that.The samples are scheduled to be sent to laboratories in Finland and Sweden on Monday. On Friday, the UN estimated the process would take about two weeks but the findings now seem to likely to be delivered before that.
The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad is accused by the US of having been responsible for using chemical weapons in an area of Damascus dominated by rebels. The Syrian government claims rebels were responsible, in an attempt to spark international intervention.The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad is accused by the US of having been responsible for using chemical weapons in an area of Damascus dominated by rebels. The Syrian government claims rebels were responsible, in an attempt to spark international intervention.
Ban's plea for the process to be speeded up may reflect the desire of the secretary general to make the UN relevant in the coming weeks. Syria is likely to be top of the agenda at the two-day G20 summit in St Petersburg beginning on Thursday and Congress is set to debate whether to back Barack Obama's call for limited military strikes against the Assad government.Ban's plea for the process to be speeded up may reflect the desire of the secretary general to make the UN relevant in the coming weeks. Syria is likely to be top of the agenda at the two-day G20 summit in St Petersburg beginning on Thursday and Congress is set to debate whether to back Barack Obama's call for limited military strikes against the Assad government.
The inspection team is unlikely to complete its report in time for the G20, which will be attended by Obama and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, one of Assad's main allies. But it might be ready in time to play a part in the congressional debate, which is due to begin on 9 September.

The inspection team's mission is to establish whether a chemical attack has taken place, but not to specify who might have been responsible.		The inspection team is unlikely to complete its report in time for the G20, which will be attended by Obama and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, one of Assad's main allies. But it might be ready in time to play a part in the congressional debate, which is due to begin on 9 September.

The inspection team's mission is to establish whether a chemical attack has taken place, but not to specify who might have been responsible.
Nesirky refused to be drawn on a time-scale for completion of the investigation.Nesirky refused to be drawn on a time-scale for completion of the investigation.
"In light of the horrendous magnitude of the 21 August incident in the Ghouta area of Damascus, the secretary general asked Dr Sellström to expedite the mission's analysis of the samples and information it had obtained without jeopardising the scientific timelines required for accurate analysis, and to report the results to him as soon as possible," Nesirky said."In light of the horrendous magnitude of the 21 August incident in the Ghouta area of Damascus, the secretary general asked Dr Sellström to expedite the mission's analysis of the samples and information it had obtained without jeopardising the scientific timelines required for accurate analysis, and to report the results to him as soon as possible," Nesirky said.
He added: "They discussed ways to further accelerate the process."He added: "They discussed ways to further accelerate the process."
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, on Friday set out the conclusions of US intelligence, saying that chemical weapons had been used and blaming the Assad government. But the US suffers a credibility problem worldwide because of the abuse of intelligence in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war, in which claims about weapons of mass destruction proved false.The US secretary of state, John Kerry, on Friday set out the conclusions of US intelligence, saying that chemical weapons had been used and blaming the Assad government. But the US suffers a credibility problem worldwide because of the abuse of intelligence in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war, in which claims about weapons of mass destruction proved false.
Nesirky did not directly address the issue of US intelligence but said the UN was uniquely capable of establishing what had happened in an "impartial and credible manner".Nesirky did not directly address the issue of US intelligence but said the UN was uniquely capable of establishing what had happened in an "impartial and credible manner".
Two Syrian government officials are observing the investigations team's work so they can verify the process.Two Syrian government officials are observing the investigations team's work so they can verify the process.
Asked why no members of the Syrian opposition had been invited, Nesirky
said the guidelines had been set by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.		Asked why no members of the Syrian opposition had been invited, Nesirky
said the guidelines had been set by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Asked about Obama's decision to delay military strikes until Congress was given a chance to debate the issue, Nesirky said Ban had noted this and viewed it as "as one aspect of an effort to achieve a broad-based international consensus on measures in response to any use of chemical weapons".Asked about Obama's decision to delay military strikes until Congress was given a chance to debate the issue, Nesirky said Ban had noted this and viewed it as "as one aspect of an effort to achieve a broad-based international consensus on measures in response to any use of chemical weapons".
He added: "The use of chemical weapons will not be accepted under any circumstances. There should be no impunity and any perpetrators of such a horrific crime against humanity must be held accountable."He added: "The use of chemical weapons will not be accepted under any circumstances. There should be no impunity and any perpetrators of such a horrific crime against humanity must be held accountable."
Ban is planning to speak to the 10 non-permanent members of the security council, possibly on Tuesday. But even if the inspection team concludes a chemical weapon attack happened, he will struggle to get the security council to agree to back military action with Russia and China, both permanent members and holding vetoes, almost certain to block it.Ban is planning to speak to the 10 non-permanent members of the security council, possibly on Tuesday. But even if the inspection team concludes a chemical weapon attack happened, he will struggle to get the security council to agree to back military action with Russia and China, both permanent members and holding vetoes, almost certain to block it.
Ban spoke with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, on Sunday and is planning to speak to other world leaders in the coming days. He will also have a chance to see them face-to-face in St Petersburg.Ban spoke with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, on Sunday and is planning to speak to other world leaders in the coming days. He will also have a chance to see them face-to-face in St Petersburg.
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