UN inspectors leave Damascus for Lebanon

UN inspectors leave Damascus for Lebanon
Sat Aug 31, 2013 09:24:13

The team of UN chemical weapons inspectors left their Damascus hotel early Saturday, and appeared to be leaving the country.

A witness saw the team's convoy of vehicles head onto a highway that leads to neighboring Lebanon.

United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky said on Friday that UN experts have finished their work in Syria and will “expedite” a report on whether chemical weapons have been used in the country’s conflict.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is ready to brief the Security Council on the investigation into a suspected chemical attack this weekend if needed, Nesirky said.

UN disarmament envoy Angela Kane left Damascus Friday and will brief Ban in New York Saturday, the spokesman added.

Ban explained the progress made by the inspection team in a meeting with UN ambassadors from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

The Barack Obama administration, backed with Israeli intelligence services, says it has concluded that the Syrian army has used chemicals near Damascus.

The US claims come as Syria has already provided UN with evidences on at least three chemical attacks carried out by US-backed militants near the Syrian capital.

NTJ/SHI

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