Western nations have “hard evidence” that chemical weapons have been used at least once in the Syrian war but a UN investigation is now unlikely to get into the country, diplomats said on Thursday.
President Bashar al-Assad’s government asked the UN to investigate its claims against rebel forces. But it is now refusing to let international experts into the country because the UN wants to look into claims against Assad’s forces.
“In one case we have hard evidence,” a western diplomat told reporters, commenting on the rival claims.
There are several examples where we are quite sure that shells with chemicals have been used in a very sporadic way
“There are several examples where we are quite sure that shells with chemicals have been used in a very sporadic way,” added the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity and without giving details of the evidence.
A diplomat from a UN Security Council nation also said that “quite convincing” evidence had been sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to back accusations against Assad’s forces.
Britain and France have submitted information to the United Nations about allegations that government forces used chemical arms in the city of Homs on December 23 and at Ataybah near Damascus last month. Neither has disclosed details but the Homs case is said to be the most serious of the two.
The Syrian government called for a UN investigation after it said opposition rebels fired a chemical weapon shell into Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province on March 19.
Syrian government troops were among those killed or wounded in the attack, according to diplomats.