UN chemical weapons inspectors to return to Syria

The United Nations has announced that the team of chemical weapons inspectors led by the Swedish expert Ake Sellstrom will return to Syria on Wednesday.

UN officials in Geneva say Mr Sellstrom’s team will return to complete its investigation into “pending credible allegations” of chemical weapons use.

In the statement, the UN said the investigation will include gathering evidence from an alleged chemical weapons attack on 19 March on the village of Khan al-Assal outside the city of Aleppo, which was captured by the rebels in July.

On its previous trip to the country, the team compiled a report that said the nerve agent sarin was used on 21 August in the district of Ghouta in Damascus.

The weapons inspection team is tasked with determining whether chemical weapons have been used, rather than apportioning blame for the attacks.