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UK has called on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to “urgently” carry out an investigation into the alleged use of Chlorine gas in Syria. The OPCW on Tuesday said that a mission would depart “soon”.
However, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said “time is of the essence in establishing the full facts”. He added that claims of chlorine gas being used many time this month were “sickening”. Ammonia and Chlorine are common industrial chemicals, and their use as weapons is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Syria last year signed the treaty after nerve agent sarin was used as a chemical agent in an attack on the suburbs of Damascus, with hundreds dying in the attack.
The OPCW met in its headquarters in The Hague on Tuesday, after which they released a statement saying that Syria had agreed to accept a mission which would “establish facts surrounding allegations of use of chlorine” and provide security in the areas it would control. “The mission will carry out its work in the most challenging circumstances”. Director General of the OPCW Ahmet Uzumcu added that he hopes the mission will start next week.
Mr. Hague said that the UK had “pushed hard to secure an investigation” and called on the OPCW to “carry out its mandate with urgency”.
“Reports suggesting that chemical weapons have again been used, heaping further misery on the people of Syria, are utterly sickening. Time is of the essence in establishing the full facts. The mission must be given full access to all sites and be allowed to carry out its investigation without any interference or delay”, he added.
Syrian officials have denied any wrongdoing on their part and placed all blame and responsibility on the al-Qaeda affiliated rebel group the al-Nusra Front.