US backs findings confirming sarin use in Syria

WASHINGTON, June 29 (KUNA) -- The US late Thursday said it "strongly supports" the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact Finding Mission (FFM) report showing that sarin gas "or a sarin-like chemical" was used in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, on April 4.
"The FFM's conclusion is based on a wide range of information, including the results of analysis of biomedical samples taken from the victims and the surrounding environment, and extensive witness interviews," the State Department said.
Their efforts "have been pursued in an impartial and highly professional manner," the statement affirmed.
While the FFM's report will now go to the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to determine who is responsible for the attack, the statement noted that "the facts reflect a despicable and highly dangerous record of chemical weapons use by the Assad regime... [as] Syria continues to fail to comply with its legal obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and UN Security Council Resolution 2118." (end) ys.ibi