UN cites ‘hard evidence’ of chemical weapons in Syria

Syrian activists claim the country’s revolution will establish a civil state Western diplomats in the United Nations have claimed they have “hard evidence” that chemical weapons have been used at least once since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011. But disagreements over the level of access means a UN investigation team is unlikely to gain entry to the country.
Speaking to reporters, one Western diplomat said: “In one case we have hard evidence," AFP reported late Thursday.
"There are several examples where we are quite sure that shells with chemicals have been used in a very sporadic way," the diplomat added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Syrian government has previously called for a UN investigation after claiming anti-government groups attack Khan al-Assal of Aleppo province in March. The rebel groups have denied the allegations and said the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was responsible.
Following the claims, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon assembled an investigation team, but Syria has refused entry, saying the unit wanted wider access than it is willing to give.
Syrian government troops were among those killed or wounded in the attack, according to diplomats.
Ban has expressed his regret at Syria’s refusal to grant entry, adding that an investigation team is ready to go provided “unfettered access” to the whole country is given.
Syrian opposition committees have meanwhile resisted calls made by al-Qaeda to establish an Islamic state in Syria, on the same day 56 people were killed in clashes between regime and rebel forces.
The Syrian revolution would establish a civil and secular state in Syria, activist sources claimed.
Al-Qaeda chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had previously called on al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists to join forces and overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, establishing an Islamic caliphate in his place.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) confirmed its troops were fighting Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite radical group, in Homs, claiming the country’s regime depended on this support to halt rebel advances on the ground.
Syria has meanwhile demanded that the UN slap sanctions on jihadists after Jabhat al-Nusra pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda.
The demand by Damascus that the UN class Jabhat al-Nusra as an al-Qaeda-linked group came as G8 foreign ministers meeting in London said they were "appalled" at the spiralling violence but made no mention of supplying arms to the rebels.
In a letter to the United Nations, Syria's Foreign Ministry said it "expects the Security Council to fulfil its role and preserve global security," and class the group as an al-Qaeda-linked group, state media reported.
A sanctions regime was introduced by the UN to punish individuals and entities linked to al-Qaeda, freezing assets, banning travel and imposing an embargo on arms destined for the terror network.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has meanwhile said his country would pressure Syrian opposition politicians to enter negotiations with regime representatives.
Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, accused the regime of deliberately or indiscriminately killing more than 4,300 civilians since July 2012 in air strikes it said amount to war crimes.
Bakeries and hospitals were among the civilian targets hit by air strikes as the regime resorts to an increasingly indiscriminate use of its air power, said the New York-based group.
On Thursday, Syria's air force pounded for the second straight day a rural area across the border in Lebanon near Arsal, a town populated by Sunni Muslims opposed to Assad, officials said.
Four people were wounded.