White House says skeptical Syrian rebels used chemical weapons | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

White House says skeptical Syrian rebels used chemical weapons

Reuters | By, Washington
May 06, 2013 11:17 PM IST

The White House is "highly skeptical" of suggestions that Syrian rebels used chemical weapons, spokesman Jay Carney said today in response to comments by a UN investigator that rebel forces have used the nerve agent, sarin.

The White House is "highly skeptical" of suggestions that Syrian rebels used chemical weapons, spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday in response to comments by a UN investigator that rebel forces have used the nerve agent, sarin.

HT Image
HT Image

Carney noted that the UN independent commission of inquiry on Syria issued a statement distancing itself from claims by Carla Del Ponte, one of the investigators on the commission.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

She said on Sunday that human rights investigators had gathered testimony from casualties of Syria's civil war and medical staff indicating that rebel forces have used sarin.

"We find it highly likely that chemical weapons, if they were in fact used in Syria - and there is certainly evidence that they were - that the Assad regime was responsible," Carney told reporters in a White House briefing, referring to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Assad's government and the rebels accuse each other of carrying out three chemical weapons attacks, one near Aleppo and another near Damascus, both in March, and another near Homs in December.

The United States has said it has "varying degrees of confidence" that sarin has been used by Syria's government on its people.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On