France suspects Syrian regime of using chemical weapons

Paris, May 4: France suspects that the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons in an attack in the northwest of the country over the weekend, in direct violation of UN resolutions, the French foreign affairs ministry said.

In the event that the regime is found culpable, it would prove that it did not comply with international obligations and that it violated UN Security Council Resolution 2118, Efe news agency cited a ministry spokesman as telling reporters.

He recalled also that the UN Resolution 2209, adopted on March 6, condemned the use of chlorine in Syria.

The spokesman further urged that the fact-finding mission launched by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should continue its task, and that is more necessary than ever to clarify the usage of such weapons in Syria.

The attacks in question occurred on Saturday and Sunday in Idlib, while the spokesman noted that those responsible must be brought to justice.

IANS