UN chemical weapon inspectors are going to be returning to Syria on Wednesday according to statements from the Russian government.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told news outlets the investigators would focus on chemical weapons attacks at Khan al-Assal, Sheikh Maqsoud and Saraqueb. The locations were the initial destinations of the inspectors until the attack on a Damascus suburb August 21st that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Continue reading
The U.N. inspection team has reportedly collected a “wealth” of evidence regarding the use of chemical weapons by the government of Bashir al-Assad…but will not actually make a direct accusation against it.
Three U.N. diplomats connected to the investigation have told Foreign Policy magazine the team will present a very strong circumstantial case pointing strongly in the direction of the Syrian government. Continue reading
Russia’s plan to have Syria surrender all chemical weapons is causing problems at the United Nations as multiple countries demand specific dates for the handoff.
The U.K., U.S. and France are demanding a timetable and consequences for that timetable not being met by Syria. American officials said they will “not fall for stalling tactics.” Continue reading
The United Nations’ refugee agency has reported the total number of Syrians fleeing the country’s civil war has climbed to over 2 million.
The number includes only those who have registered as refugees with U.N. related organizations so the number could be higher. The total has risen more than one million in the last six months. Continue reading
The U.K. Is preparing a resolution to submit to the U.N. Security Council opening the door to possible military intervention against the al-Assad government for use of chemical weapons on civilians.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain’s National Security Council had unanimously supported action against Syria. The resolution will be presented today at a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Continue reading
The Arab League has officially blamed the Syrian government for the chemical weapons attack that killed over 300 civilians one week ago.
The group held an emergency meeting on Tuesday and called for the United Nations Security Council to “overcome their differences” and take action against those who committed “this heinous crime”. The ministerial level of the League is meeting next week to discuss next steps against Syria. Continue reading
United Nations officials confirm that four peacekeepers are missing after a supply convoy was hit by flash flooding in the Darfur region of Sudan. Two other peacekeepers who were caught in the raging waters were found alive by a rescue team a few hours after the incident according to the BBC.
The World Health Organization reports that at least 50 people have been killed in the flooding across Sudan in August. They estimate at least 300,000 people have been impacted in some way by the floods. Continue reading
The United Nations is sending strongly worded complaints to the Syrian government after the body’s chemical weapon inspection team was fired upon by snipers as they tried to reach the site of last Wednesday’s chemical weapons attack.
The team was forced to retreat when one of their cars was struck by sniper fire in the tires and windshield. They were entering an area considered a “buffer zone” between rebels and government troops at the time of the attack according to the BBC. Continue reading
The Syrian government, almost a week after a chemical weapons attack killed more than 300 people, is finally allowing United Nations inspectors to visit the site.
The team is scheduled to arrive some time Monday although U.K. Foreign Secretary William Teague says evidence could have been tampered with, degraded or even destroyed in the days since the Wednesday attack. Continue reading
France is calling for international force to be used in Syria if it can be proven that yesterday’s attack on a civilian population was the result of the government using chemical weapons.
“France’s position is that there must be a reaction,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the BFM TV channel. “A reaction that could take the form of a reaction with force.”
France, the U.K. and Turkey have all demanded action by the United Nations. Continue reading