Ban Ki-moon: UN report to confirm use of chemical weapons in Syria

A report by United Nations chemical weapons experts is likely to confirm that chemical weapons were used in an August 21 attack on Damascus suburbs that killed hundreds of people, U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday. “I believe the report will be an overwhelming, overwhelming report that chemical weapons were used, though I cannot publically say at this time before I receive this report,” he said at a U.N. meeting. Ban added that Syrian President Bashar Assad “has committed many crimes against humanity.” He did not say however whether it was the Syrian regime or the rebels who used poison gas in the August 21 attack. A U.N. expert team led by Ake Sellstrom of Sweden is currently preparing a chemical weapons report on Syria. The report is scheduled for release next week, but will not name who is responsible for the attack.