UN to investigate possible use of chemical weapons in Syria

The United Nations will investigate the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, which would amount to a crime against humanity, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Thursday.

The investigation could be broader than the Syrian government's request for an independent probe of a purported chemical weapons attack on Tuesday. Ban said he was aware of allegations of other, similar attacks and hoped the probe would ultimately help secure Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.

The secretary-general said investigators would look into Syria's allegation that rebels carried out a chemical weapons attack on Khan al-Assal village in northern Aleppo province. The rebels blamed regime forces for the attack.

A senior U.S. official, meanwhile, said Thursday that the United States now has strong indications that no chemical weapons were used at all in the attack. Officials won't entirely rule out the possibility, but the official said additional intelligence-gathering has led the U.S. to believe more strongly that it was not a weaponized chemical attack. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said France and Britain sent a letter to Ban on Thursday asking for an investigation of three alleged chemical weapons attacks.

Ban said in a reply to the British and French that while the UN investigation will focus on the Syrian allegation, "we must take seriously other allegations that chemical weapons were used elsewhere in the country," Nesirky said.

The secretary-general asked the Syrians, British and French to provide additional information about the alleged attacks, an indication that he might order a separate probe at a later time of the British-French allegations.

Syria is widely believed to have a large stockpile of chemical weapons. The government has not confirmed it, saying only that it would never use chemical weapons against its own people.

"My announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity," the secretary-general said. "The international community needs full assurance that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded."

Western nations fear President Bashar al-Assad would use chemical weapons if he sees the two-year civil war turning against his government. But they are equally concerned that rebel forces, including some linked to al-Qaeda, could get their hands on unguarded chemical weapons or the materials to make them.

Ban said he was aware of "other allegations of similar cases involving the reported use of chemical weapons," but did not make clear whether these would be part of the UN investigation.

In their letter to Ban, France and Britain raised allegations of chemical weapons use in two locations in Khan al-Assal and the village of Ataybah in the vicinity of Damascus on Tuesday, and in Homs on Dec. 23. The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, asked the UN chief to launch "an urgent investigation into all allegations as expeditiously as possible."

U.S. supports investigation

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States "supports an investigation that pursues any and all credible allegations of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria." She said the U.S. will continue to work closely with its partners to obtain further information on allegations of potential or actual use, and underscored the importance of launching the investigation swiftly.

"President Obama has been clear that the use or transfer of chemical weapons is totally unacceptable," she said. "If Bashar Al-Assad and those under his command make the mistake of using chemical weapons, or fail to meet their obligation to secure them, then there will be consequences. Those responsible will be held accountable."

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, whose country is a close ally of Syria, welcomed Ban's announcement. On Wednesday, however, he had strongly opposed expanding the investigation beyond Tuesday's attack in Aleppo, accusing the West of "launching propaganda balloons" and engaging in delaying tactics.

Ban said his senior advisers are setting up an investigation in consultation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the World Health Organization. He said issues to be decided include the overall mandate, the composition, and operational conditions, including security.

The investigation will start "as soon as practically possible," Ban said, but "will not happen overnight."

Nesirky said there are "technical reasons for being on the ground sooner rather than later." He said the OPCW and WHO have the necessary technical expertise.

The OPCW, which oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention, said in a statement that it was ready to work closely with the UN on establishing and conducting the mission.

"While allegations of this nature are not new to conflict situations, they are nonetheless serious, especially in the context of Syria which is not a state party to the Chemical Weapons Convention," the OPCW said. "This remains a matter of serious concern."

Ban said he would emphasize in a letter to the Syrian government that full co-operation from all parties and "unfettered access" would be essential to the investigation. The UN chief said he has spoken out repeatedly on the Syrian government's responsibility to secure any chemical weapons and has sent two letters to Assad "to remind him of this solemn duty."

"It is my hope that the mission would contribute to ensuring the safety and security of chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria," he said.

With more than 70,000 people killed and no end to the violence in sight, Ban said "the military solution in Syria is leading to the dissolution of Syria."

He called on the deeply divided region and international community to find unity and support efforts by the joint UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to help the Syrian people reach a political solution.