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| UN probes new alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria | UN probes new alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UN inspectors are investigating seven alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria - three of which happened after the 21 August Damascus incident that sparked threats of US military action. | UN inspectors are investigating seven alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria - three of which happened after the 21 August Damascus incident that sparked threats of US military action. |
| The UN said its team of inspectors is set to finish its work by Monday. | The UN said its team of inspectors is set to finish its work by Monday. |
| The day after, a separate team is due to arrive in Damascus to inspect Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. | The day after, a separate team is due to arrive in Damascus to inspect Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. |
| That visit, by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), is due to be formally approved later. | That visit, by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), is due to be formally approved later. |
| The OPCW's 41-nation executive council will vote on a draft agreement for the inspections on Friday evening. | The OPCW's 41-nation executive council will vote on a draft agreement for the inspections on Friday evening. |
| The text will then be incorporated into a UN Security Council resolution - which has been agreed by both the US and Russia - calling on Syria to give up its chemical weapons. | The text will then be incorporated into a UN Security Council resolution - which has been agreed by both the US and Russia - calling on Syria to give up its chemical weapons. |
| The resolution will condemn the use of chemical weapons in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus on 21 August which killed hundreds of people - but will not attribute blame. | The resolution will condemn the use of chemical weapons in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus on 21 August which killed hundreds of people - but will not attribute blame. |
| If Syria fails to comply, a second resolution would be required to impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN charter, including the use of force. | If Syria fails to comply, a second resolution would be required to impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN charter, including the use of force. |
| In a sign of the ongoing violence in the country, Syrian activists said a car bomb had killed at least 20 people near a mosque in Rankus, a town north of Damascus, just after Friday prayers. | In a sign of the ongoing violence in the country, Syrian activists said a car bomb had killed at least 20 people near a mosque in Rankus, a town north of Damascus, just after Friday prayers. |
| In a statement, the UN said its chemical weapons inspection team, led by Ake Sellstrom, arrived in Syria for its second visit on 25 September and hopes to have finished its work by Monday 30 September. | In a statement, the UN said its chemical weapons inspection team, led by Ake Sellstrom, arrived in Syria for its second visit on 25 September and hopes to have finished its work by Monday 30 September. |
| The team is working on a "comprehensive report" into seven allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria, which it hopes will be published by late October, the statement said. | The team is working on a "comprehensive report" into seven allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria, which it hopes will be published by late October, the statement said. |
| The UN listed the alleged attacks, which all took place this year, as Khan al-Assal on 19 March; Sheikh Maqsoud on 13 April; Saraqeb on 29 April; Ghouta on 21 August; Bahhariya on 22 August; Jobar on 24 August and Ashrafieh Sahnaya, 25 August. | |
| Syria has pushed for the investigation of the three post-21 August incidents. | Syria has pushed for the investigation of the three post-21 August incidents. |
| Its envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, accused "militants" of using chemical gas against the army in Bahhariyeh, Jobar and Ashrafiah Sahnaya. | Its envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, accused "militants" of using chemical gas against the army in Bahhariyeh, Jobar and Ashrafiah Sahnaya. |
| It was the Ghouta incident of 21 August that sparked international outrage and the threat of military action from the US and its allies. | It was the Ghouta incident of 21 August that sparked international outrage and the threat of military action from the US and its allies. |
| Since then Russia - an ally of Syria - has urged Damascus to agree to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in a bid to avert a military attack. | Since then Russia - an ally of Syria - has urged Damascus to agree to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in a bid to avert a military attack. |
| Earlier this month, the US and Russia asked the OPCW to decide how to ensure the "complete elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment" in Syria by the first half of 2014. | Earlier this month, the US and Russia asked the OPCW to decide how to ensure the "complete elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment" in Syria by the first half of 2014. |
| The OPCW's draft agreement calls for inspections of Syria's chemical arsenal to begin by Tuesday. An advance team will probably arrive on Monday. | The OPCW's draft agreement calls for inspections of Syria's chemical arsenal to begin by Tuesday. An advance team will probably arrive on Monday. |
| Syria is instructed to provide "immediate and unfettered" access to OPCW's inspectors. If it does not, a meeting of the executive council will be called within 24 hours. | Syria is instructed to provide "immediate and unfettered" access to OPCW's inspectors. If it does not, a meeting of the executive council will be called within 24 hours. |
| The text also authorises the OPCW to inspect "any other site identified by a State Party as having been involved in the Syrian chemical weapons programme, unless deemed unwarranted by the director general". | The text also authorises the OPCW to inspect "any other site identified by a State Party as having been involved in the Syrian chemical weapons programme, unless deemed unwarranted by the director general". |
| The OPCW usually only inspects sites that have been declared by states which have acceded to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). | The OPCW usually only inspects sites that have been declared by states which have acceded to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). |
| The draft agreement calls for urgent funding to hire inspectors and technical experts to destroy an estimated 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents and precursor chemicals, including the blister agent sulphur mustard, and the nerve agents sarin and VX. | The draft agreement calls for urgent funding to hire inspectors and technical experts to destroy an estimated 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents and precursor chemicals, including the blister agent sulphur mustard, and the nerve agents sarin and VX. |