France suggests that the Syrian government used chemical weapons

Hopes for peace than the cemeteries dissipate in Syria between the chlorine gas and the international impotence. While the United Nations mediator for conflict, Lakhdar Brahimi, announced on Tuesday afternoon that he will resign on May 31, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius launched new accusations against the regime of Bashar al-Assad: “Did you use new elements of war chemistry, at least 11 recent times. ” Following a meeting in Washington with U.S. Sectary of State John Kerry, Fabius said to have “very strong evidence” that Damascus continues to use chlorine gas against militants and civilians. This would break the international commitment made by Assad in the fall of 2013, when it signed the Convention banning chemical weapons.

Chlorine, for civil purposes, is not on the list of chemicals that Damascus pledged to destroy, but the Treaty prohibits any use as a chemical weapon. Chlorine gas is less dangerous compounds such as mustard gas, but is also highly toxic and has already been used in several wars. The head of French diplomacy in Washington said they are “checking” the ski use in Syria, on which have not ruled out any doubts. The regime and the rebels have accused each other of having used chlorine gas to kill the enemy and terrorize civilians.

In a particularly harsh language, Fabius recalled to their American allies who advocated attacking Paris Assad after the attack with chemical weapons that cost more than a thousand lives in a suburb of Damascus on 21 August. United States and Europe and then accused the regime threatened military retaliation. But Moscow brokered for Assad to commit to deliver and complete destruction of its chemical arsenal, both banned compounds such as pumps and the necessary equipment for military use.

Fabius almost explicitly regretted that U.S. President Barack Obama resigned this fall to attack Syria. France, Fabius said Kerry with his counterpart, would not act alone. But Paris “feels now that would have changed a lot of things” in the Syrian carnage.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)  has medical evidence of 11 dead and 500 wounded with symptoms of gas poisoning. Also, there are pictures and videos from the remains of barrel pumps with chlorine canisters burst in the explosion. The organization has collected testimonies from civilians who speak of a “a cleaner ” immediately some explosions of homemade bombs dropped from helicopters smell. None of the rebel factions has an operational aviation.

With this background, the mediator Lakhdar Brahimi resigned and apologized to the victims of the civil war by the failure of his efforts. The veteran Algerian diplomat lamented that ” has not gotten the help they so desperately need.” Brahimi organized two recent rounds of negotiations between Damascus and the opposition. Both ended with no sign of agreement. Were not even able to agree on a new schedule of contacts. The resignation of the mediator was expected since Assad called for presidential elections a few weeks ago. The electoral pantomime sinking half of the war plans Brahimi, who aspired to establish an interim government that would allow reconciliation between the sides. Although the rebels still dominate much of the country, Assad forces are achieving partial success fueling confidence in the final victory.

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Posted by Maleeha Tareen on May 16 2014. Filed under Middle East. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.