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Syria will let UN inspectors probe chemical attack: FM

24 August 2013 20:51 (UTC +04:00)

In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Saturday, al-Muallem added that his respective country has cooperated with the UN team of chemical experts present in the country.

He added that Damascus is now holding talks with the UN inspectors on the access to the site of the alleged chemical attack.

Al-Muallem categorically rejected the allegation that the Damascus government has used chemical weapons, describing the claim as a new ploy by the enemies of the Syrian government and nation.

The Iranian foreign minister, for his part, condemned any use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups in Syria and reiterated that using such weapons was in violation of humanitarian principles as well as international law. He called on the international community to take measures against such inhumane moves.

Zarif also said that any approach other than the peaceful settlement of the Syria crisis was doomed to failure and will have dire consequences and urged global support for a political solution to the ongoing turmoil in the Arab country.

On August 21, the head of the so-called opposition Syrian National Coalition, George Sabra, claimed that 1,300 people were killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar.

The Syrian government, however, has vehemently rejected allegations that it used chemical arms, saying the accusations were fabricated to distract a visiting team of UN chemical weapons experts and to cover up militant losses.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million others displaced since the outbreak of the violence.