Syria Ready to Cooperate with UN Watchdog on Gas Attack Accusations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Syria said on Thursday it was ready to cooperate with the global chemical weapons watchdog over accusations it had used poison gas against terrorist-held areas.
A Syrian foreign ministry statement said Damascus was ready to cooperate with a team of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) currently in Syria and looking into incidents Damascus blames on "terror groups and their foreign operatives".
A joint investigation by the UN and the chemical weapons watchdog last month said Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and that Daesh terrorists had used sulfur mustard gas, according to a report seen by Reuters.
The year-long UN and OPCW inquiry -unanimously authorized by the UN Security Council- focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria.
The results set the stage for a Security Council showdown between the five veto-wielding powers, likely pitting Russia and China against the US, Britain and France over whether sanctions should be imposed after the inquiry.
Diplomatic sources say there have been discussions between Washington and other powers in the Security Council on a resolution that would impose sanctions, moves that have long been opposed by Moscow, a staunch ally of President Bashar al Assad's government.
