UNITED NATIONS: UN experts have finished their work in Syria and will “expedite” a report on whether chemical weapons have been used in the country’s conflict, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said yesterday.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is ready to brief the UN Security Council on the investigation this weekend if needed, he said. No country has yet requested a Security Council meeting. Ban explained progress made by the inspection team in a meeting with UN ambassadors from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. “The team has completed its collection of samples and evidence. They are now packing up, and leaving Syria tomorrow.”
UN disarmament envoy Angela Kane left Damascus and will brief Ban in New York today. Interpreters and other backup staff with the UN team also left yesterday. The spokesman said that the eventual report written by the inspection team would be given to all UN member states. AFP
