Mission to determine if chemical weapons used in Syria ends, findings could take weeks

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Friday that its fact-finding mission to Douma brought back samples for analysis at OPCW-designated laboratories — a process that could take at least three to four weeks.

The Netherlands-based OPCW says the team will continue work "to collect more information and material."

The organization says it is not possible to say when it will issue a report into the April 7 attack. The inspectors are only mandated to establish whether a chemical weapon was used, not to apportion blame.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed Friday the OPCW team had "finished their mission" to probe the Douma attack.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the inspectors collected samples at a laboratory and a depot.

Western powers accused the Russia-backed Syrian government of using chemical gas in Douma. Syria and close ally Russia deny that chemical weapons were used. The U.S., France and Britain bombed Syrian government sites in retaliation.

Syria, Russia deny chemical weapon use

OPCW investigators were delayed from visiting the sites in Syria, leading Western officials and Syrian activists to accuse Russia and the Syrian government of staging a coverup.

In addition, Russia and Syria last week held a briefing for states belonging to the OPCW to support Moscow's assertion that no chemical weapons were used in Douma and the attack was staged by rebels.

The briefing was boycotted by several OPCW member states, which denounced the Russian event as "a crude propaganda exercise" intended to undermine the OPCW's work.

A joint United Nations-OPCW investigation concluded last year that Syrian government forces used sarin nerve agent and chlorine in several attacks.