Israel Matzav

UN chemical inspectors suspend Syria mission after sniper attack

United Nations chemical weapons inspectors in Syria have suspended their mission after coming under sniper fire earlier on Monday.

Unidentified snipers shot at U.N. experts on Monday, forcing them to suspend their attempt to investigate claims that chemical weapons had been used near Damascus, a U.N. spokesman said, according to AFP.

"The first vehicle of the chemical weapons investigation team was deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers," said U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky. No injuries were reported.

U.N. weapons investigators were due on Monday to inspect the site of a suspected chemical attack which killed at least 1,300 people last week in Damascus suburbs.

The move follows Syria agreeing on Sunday to allow the inspectors to visit the site, although an American official told reporters the move was “too late to be credible.”

You don't think Assad would order his troops to do something like that, do you?

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon talked big and carried a little stick.

Meanwhile, U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon said Monday there was no time to waste in investigating the alleged chemical attack.

“Every hour counts. We cannot afford any more delays,” Ban told reporters in Seoul, AFP news agency reported.

“The world is watching Syria,” the secretary general said, stressing once again that the U.N. experts must be allowed to conduct a “full, thorough and unimpeded” investigation.

“We cannot allow impunity in what appears to be a grave crime against humanity,” said Ban who was wrapping up a five-day visit to his homeland, South Korea.

 What could go wrong?

Labels: Ban Ki-Moon, Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Damascus, Syrian army, United Nations

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:15 PM