Syria chemical use likely to be confirmed in UN report, Ban Ki-moon says

[al bupp]

Source: AP (via CBC)

A report by UN chemical weapons experts will likely confirm that poison gas was used in an Aug. 21 attack on Damascus suburbs that killed hundreds of people, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said today as U.S.-Russian talks in Geneva aimed at securing Syria's chemical arms continued.

"I believe that the report will be an overwhelming, overwhelming report that chemical weapons [were] used even though I cannot publicly say at this time before I receive this report," Ban said at a UN meeting.

He was referring to a report by the UN expert team led by Ake Sellstrom of Sweden that went into Syria to collect evidence to determine if chemicals were used last month as the civil war was raging.

Ban also said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "has committed many crimes against humanity," though he did not say whether it was Assad's forces or rebels who used chemical toxins in the Aug. 21 attack.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/09/13/wrd-syria-russia-us-chemical-weapons.html?cmp=rss

---

According to Al Jazeera America, the former Sec General of UN made these remarks when he thought he was speaking privately behind closed doors, but his words were actually being picked-up and somehow broadcast w/in the UN.

[riderinthestorm]

1. Is anyone disputing there was CW use?

I thought that was a given. What we don't know is who did it, how, and some more accurate numbers on those killed and affected.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. What is primarily disputed is whodunnit.

And there are a couple questions in that area. For starters, does the sample contain residue of additional chemicals used to stabilize and store Assad's admittedly produced and owned Sarin, or is it homebrew shit?

That doesn't necessarily prove it was the rebels, but it might lend some credence to the claims that it was.

[Ghost Dog]

4. "not say whether it was Assad's forces or rebels"

... UN Security Council Terms of Reference exclude asking 'who did it'...

... For some probably very dark reason...

[Sand Wind]

2. Will be overwhelming ...nt

[GeorgeGist]

5. NSA can go both ways.

thought he was speaking privately behind closed doors