UN mission to probe alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 -- The UN investigation team will start a on-site fact-finding probe into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria on Monday, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement through his spokesperson.

The Syrian government has agreed to provide necessary cooperation for on-site investigation, including the observance of the cessation of hostilities at related locations of the chemical weapon incident, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

Ban has instructed the investigation team, led by Swedish expert Ake Sellstrom, to focus its attention "on ascertaining the facts of the Aug. 21 incident as its highest priority."

He also stressed that "all relevant parties equally share the responsibility of cooperating in urgently generating a safe environment for the mission to do its job efficiently and providing all necessary information."

The Syrian opposition claimed that 1,300 people were killed in a government chemical weapons attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus, the Syrian capital, last Wednesday. The Syrian government denied the allegation.

The alleged chemical weapons attack took place just two days after a group of UN inspectors began an investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons used in the northern Khan al-Assal town and two other undisclosed locations.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane met with Syrian government officials in Damascus Saturday and Sunday to seek an agreement on the probe of the latest incident. The Syrian government agreed to grant access to the UN team on Sunday.

The international community has raised concerns over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria after Syrian opposition activists pointed fingers at the government forces for using "poisonous gases" in Damascus countryside.

Some Western countries threatened to react with force if it is confirmed that the Syrian government forces did use chemical weapons in the conflicts, while Russia hopes the results of the UN probe in Syria could clarify what really happened in the country.

The Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011 between government forces and armed opposition seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad, has led to the deaths of more than 93,000 people and forced more than 1.7 million people to flee the country.

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