Syria discloses four secret chemical weapons facilities, UN says

[G_j]

Source: Associated Press at the United Nations theguardian

News raises concerns Islamic State could get hold of remaining stockpiles a year after UN joint mission set out to destroy them

Tuesday 7 October 2014 13.48 EDT

Syria has declared four chemical weapons facilities it had not previously disclosed, a special representative of the United Nations secretary general told the security council on Tuesday. The news heightened concerns that the Syrian government has not been fully open about its chemical weapons program.

Diplomats said Sigrid Kaag told them during closed consultations that three of the facilities are for research and development and one is for production, and that no new chemical agents have been associated with the four sites.

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, tweeted: “Must keep pressure on regime so it doesn’t hide CW capability.”

A joint mission between the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was tasked last year with eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons program after the security council found rare agreement on Syria. The deal was reached under threat of US air strikes after images of civilian victims laid out after an attack on a Damascus suburb shocked the world. President Bashar al-Assad’s government denied involvement and blamed rebel groups.

The joint UN-OPCW mission has said all 1,300 tons of declared chemical weapons have been removed, and attention now turns to destroying Syria’s chemical weapon facilities.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/07/syria-secret-chemical-weapons-facilities-un-says

[msanthrope]

1. For shits and giggles, one could use the helpful search function

provided by the admin to google those past threads where some DUers were confused as to whether or not Assad possessed chemical weapons that he used on his own people. You could google my username and "Assad" and "chemical" and get a shiteload of threads where President Obama is excoriated and Assad is defended.

I mean, if you wanted to.

I remember this particular admin contribution.....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017144684


To the jury....it is not against the terms of service to refer to past threads. Indeed, the admin-provided advanced search function is quite helpful....

[KoKo]

2. Right on Cue... ASSAD MUST GO....He is STILL GASSING HIS OWN PEOPLE!

"The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, tweeted: “Must keep pressure on regime so it doesn’t hide CW capability.”