Claims of use of 'Chemical weapons' in Syria

Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday held a phone call with Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu on Tuesday about the use of chemical weapons in Syria. According to statement released from the UN News Centre that Ban and Uzumcu shared deep concern about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. It was added that the UN SG Ban remains convinced over the use of chemical weapons by any party under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime. The statement said, Secretary General Ban reaffirmed his strong support for the work of the OPCW which is closely monitoring the situation on the ground. Lastly, UN media office said, Ban and the Director General of the OPCW, Uzumcu would continue to maintain close contact as developments unfold. Furthermore, UN secretary general's spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters that the UN was not in a position to confirm the reports of possible chemical weapons use in Syria. Nesirky expressed, "What I can say is that the Secretary General has repeatedly said that any use of chemical weapons by any side in Syria would be a grave violation of international humanitarian law and would also be an outrageous escalation of an already bloody conflict."