OPCW to deploy mission to Douma, Syria

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, April 10, IRNA -- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is scheduled to dispatch a fact-finding team to probe into alleged chemical attacks in Douma, Syria.

The media affiliated with the terrorists had claimed that the Syrian jet fighters conducted a chemical attack on Douma Saturday night, killing 75 people and injuring scores of others.

"Since the first reports of alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma were released, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been gathering information from all available sources and analyzing it. At the same time, OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, has considered the deployment of a Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team to Douma to establish facts surrounding these allegations," OPCW website reported.

"Today, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has requested the Syrian Arab Republic to make the necessary arrangements for such a deployment. This has coincided with a request from the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation to investigate the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma. The team is preparing to deploy to Syria shortly."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier called on OPCW experts to review chemical attack in Douma, Syria. OPCW experts should attend the accident site to collect specimens for a detailed report, Lavrov said.

Russia will support OPCW experts, Lavrov reiterated.

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Ministry invited OPCW to send a fact-finding team to Douma.

9376**1396