Chemical experts finally see Syria site

International Desk: International chemical weapons experts have finally inspected the site of a suspected attack near Damascus which caused an international crisis.

The team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) travelled to the town of Douma and collected samples and other items.

Last week Western states bombed several Syrian government sites in retaliation for the suspected attack on 7 April.

Syria and Russia, which now control Douma, deny chemical arms were used.

More than 40 people are said to have died on 7 April. The joint military response by the US, UK and France followed a war of words with Russia, Syria's main military ally.

The delay in the OPCW visit encouraged the proliferation of rival theories and accusations ricocheted between the various capitals and across the internet, BBC Arab Affairs editor Sebastian Usher says.

In a press release, the OPCW said its team had visited one of the two sites reportedly bombed in Douma on 7 April.

The unspecified samples will be sent to the OPCW Laboratory in Rijswijk, a suburb of The Hague, and then analysed by designated labs, the agency said.

Other information and "materials" have also been collected by the inspectors, it said.

An ITV News correspondent recorded the return of the OPCW convoy to Damascus.

Source: BBC


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