UN report confirms usage of chemical weapon

The United Nations has confirmed “unequivocally and objectively” that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, British Broadcasting Corporation reports.

A UN report says sarin gas was used in a rocket attack in the Syrian capital, Damascus, last month, although it has not attributed blame.

“This is a war crime,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

US allegations that the government was responsible led to threats of military action and then a US-Russia deal for Syria to make safe its chemical arms.

World powers will now try to hammer out a UN Security Council resolution.

Earlier, UN investigators said they were probing 14 alleged chemical attacks in Syria since September 2011.

Meanwhile, Turkey said it had shot down a Syrian helicopter close to its border. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the aircraft was engaged by fighter jets after violating Turkish air space. It came down in Syria and the fate of the crew is unknown.

Ban briefed the Security Council on the report, and then addressed the media.

He said he was submitting the UN mission’s report “with a heavy heart”.

He added, “The mission has concluded that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale in the Ghouta area of Damascus (on 21 August). The attack resulted in numerous casualties, particularly among civilians.

“Survivors reported that following an attack with shelling, they quickly experienced a range of symptoms, including shortness of breath, disorientation, eye irritation, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and general weakness.

“Many eventually lost consciousness. First responders described seeing a large number of individuals lying on the ground, many of them dead or unconscious.”

The UN investigators examined blood, hair, urine and rocket samples.

Ban said 85% of the blood samples tested positive for sarin.

“On the basis of its analysis, the mission concluded that it – and I quote – ‘collected clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used in the Ein Tarma, Moadamiyah and Zalmalka in the Ghouta area of Damascus,” he said.