UN Walks Back Claim Chemical Weapons Used By Syrian Rebels -- The Hill
The U.N. panel investigating claims of human rights abuses in Syria walked back on Monday reports that it has evidence of sarin use by the rebels seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The clarification comes after panel member Carla Del Ponte told Swiss-Italian television on Sunday that U.N. experts have “strong, concrete suspicions, but not yet incontrovertible proof, of the use of sarin gas” by rebel groups.
A growing number of countries – including Israel, France and Britain – say they believe government forces have used such weapons, which would violate President Obama's “red line” and could prompt greater U.S. involvement in the two-year-old civil war.
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Update #1: UN: No clear proof of Syria chemical arms use -- Al Jazeera
My Comment: It appears that panel member Carla Del Ponte spoke too soon ... with the commission itself now coming out and stating categorically that it has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the conflict.
This premature announcement is an embarrassment .... and it now undermines the credibility of the UN commission investigating these chemical weapons claims.
Update #2: Syria rebels reject UN chemical weapons claim -- Al Jazeera
Update #3: White House disputes UN official's claim on Syria opposition using chemical weapons -- FOX News