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UN concerned about use of chemical warfare in Syria
20 Mar 2013 at 07:46hrs | Views
UN concerned about use of chemical warfare in Syria
The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has voiced grave concern about the reported use of chemical warfare in Syria.
Ki-moon points out in his statement that the use of such warfare by any party to the conflict under any circumstances is a glaring crime.
It transpired on Tuesday that a shell with a war chemical exploded in the area of the Syrian city Aleppo.
At least 25 people died, while dozens of others were injured as a result. The Damascus government and the opposition have accused each other of using chemical warfare. Russia took the incident as an extremely alarming and dangerous event.
There is a "high probability" that Syria deployed chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war, but final verification is needed, the chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee told CNN on Tuesday.
"I have a high probability to believe that chemical weapons were used," Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "We need that final verification, but given everything we know over the last year and a half, I would come to the conclusion that they are either positioned for use, and ready to do that, or in fact have been used."
Rogers and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck ominous tones in an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room" about the possibility that Syria had crossed what President Barack Obama has said was a "red line" that could lead to the United States getting involved militarily in the conflict.
Rogers' statement comes as the specter of chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian civil war emerged Tuesday, with the government and rebels each blaming the other for using such munitions.
In remarks earlier Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough told Jake Tapper on CNN's "The Lead" that the president takes the issue of chemical weapons in Syria "very, very seriously."
If reports of chemical warfare are substantiated, McDonough told CNN, "this is a game changer, and we'll act accordingly."
Ki-moon points out in his statement that the use of such warfare by any party to the conflict under any circumstances is a glaring crime.
It transpired on Tuesday that a shell with a war chemical exploded in the area of the Syrian city Aleppo.
At least 25 people died, while dozens of others were injured as a result. The Damascus government and the opposition have accused each other of using chemical warfare. Russia took the incident as an extremely alarming and dangerous event.
There is a "high probability" that Syria deployed chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war, but final verification is needed, the chairman of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee told CNN on Tuesday.
"I have a high probability to believe that chemical weapons were used," Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "We need that final verification, but given everything we know over the last year and a half, I would come to the conclusion that they are either positioned for use, and ready to do that, or in fact have been used."
Rogers and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck ominous tones in an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room" about the possibility that Syria had crossed what President Barack Obama has said was a "red line" that could lead to the United States getting involved militarily in the conflict.
Rogers' statement comes as the specter of chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian civil war emerged Tuesday, with the government and rebels each blaming the other for using such munitions.
In remarks earlier Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough told Jake Tapper on CNN's "The Lead" that the president takes the issue of chemical weapons in Syria "very, very seriously."
If reports of chemical warfare are substantiated, McDonough told CNN, "this is a game changer, and we'll act accordingly."
Source - ruvr
