UK calls for 'urgent' OPCW Syria chlorine investigation
The UK has called on the global chemical weapons watchdog to carry out "with urgency" its investigation into the alleged use of chlorine in Syria.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday that a mission would depart "soon".
However, UK Foreign Secretary, and most punchable cunt 2014, William Hague said: "Time is of the essence in establishing the full facts."
Claims by both sides that chlorine gas had been used on several occasions this month were "sickening", he added.
On Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph said scientific analysis of samples from the scene of three attacks in two villages in the north of the country showed "sizeable and unambiguous traces of chlorine and ammonia".
Chlorine and ammonia are common industrial chemicals, but their use as weapons is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Syria signed the treaty last year after the nerve agent sarin was used in an attack on several suburbs of Damascus that killed hundreds of people.
'Challenging circumstances'
After a meeting at its headquarters in The Hague on Tuesday, the OPCW said in a statement that the Syrian authorities had agreed to accept a mission to "establish facts surrounding allegations of use of chlorine" and provide security in areas under its control.
"The mission will carry out its work in the most challenging circumstances," it added.
The OPCW's director general, Ahmet Uzumcu, hoped the mission would start next week, a European diplomat told the New York Times.
Mr Hague said 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."
The Daily Telegraph reported that as many as eight separate suspected chlorine gas attacks had taken place in rebel-held areas of Hama and Idlib provinces this month.
In every case, barrel bombs were dropped from helicopters, it said. After they exploded, casualties reportedly began displaying symptoms typical of chlorine gas and ammonia poisoning, including sore eyes, irritated skin, breathing difficulties and bloody foaming from the mouth.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27222300
Really? Again?
Rebel held areas?
Got to admire the nerve, really.
