DHAKA: United Nations inspectors said on Monday there is ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale in an attack last month in Syria that killed hundreds of people.

The inspectors said ‘the environmental, chemical and medical samples we have collected provide clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used... in the Ghouta area of Damascus’ on August 21.

The report mentioned the areas of Ein Tarma, Moadamiyeh and Zamalka.

‘The conclusion is that chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic... against civilians including children on a relatively large scale,’ the inspectors said on the first page of their report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, according to The Straits Times.

Ban is scheduled to present the report to the UN Security Council on Monday.

BDST: 2047 HRS, SEPT 16, 2013
RoR/SRS