Chemical Weapons Investigators to Visit Syria

A team of United Nations chemical weapons investigators will travel to Syria to investigate claims that the country used chemical weapons during its civil war, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement on Wednesday. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to let the team enter the country and investigate three sites where chemical weapons are said to have been used. “The departure of the team is now imminent,” Ban said in the statement. “As agreed with the government of Syria, the team will remain in the country to conduct its activities, including on-site visits, for a period of up to 14 days, extendable upon mutual consent.” The team will be led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom.