AFP, United Nations :
A report by the OPCW chemical watchdog has concluded “with a high degree of confidence” that chlorine gas was used in attacks on three villages in Syria last year.
At least 13 people died among the 350 to 500 casualties from the attacks, according to the report by a fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
The UN Security Council discussed the report on Tuesday, prompting a clash between Britain, France, the United States, which raised concerns over the findings, and Russia, diplomats said.
US Ambassador Samantha Power said the latest report provided “more compelling eyewitness evidence of chlorine gas use by Syria regime.”
“Regime must be shown it is not enough to destroy declared CW (chemical weapons); must stop dropping chemical-laden explosives on civilians,” Power posted on her Twitter account.
The report did not attribute responsibility for the chlorine attacks that were carried out from April to August on the villages of Talmenese, Al Tamanah and Kafr Zita.
A report by the OPCW chemical watchdog has concluded “with a high degree of confidence” that chlorine gas was used in attacks on three villages in Syria last year.
At least 13 people died among the 350 to 500 casualties from the attacks, according to the report by a fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
The UN Security Council discussed the report on Tuesday, prompting a clash between Britain, France, the United States, which raised concerns over the findings, and Russia, diplomats said.
US Ambassador Samantha Power said the latest report provided “more compelling eyewitness evidence of chlorine gas use by Syria regime.”
“Regime must be shown it is not enough to destroy declared CW (chemical weapons); must stop dropping chemical-laden explosives on civilians,” Power posted on her Twitter account.
The report did not attribute responsibility for the chlorine attacks that were carried out from April to August on the villages of Talmenese, Al Tamanah and Kafr Zita.
