Chemical weapons used by al-Assad 50 times – US official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – United States Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Joseph Manso said that his country believes “the Syrian regime” has used chemical weapons at least 50 times during conflict in war-torn Syria.
Manso hold the Syrian government responsible for curbing the work of the OPCW in Syria.
Manso, in an interview with Alhurra, pointed out that the OPCW managed to deter al-Assad from using forbidden weapons again, noting that the US supports efforts of the multinational parties to hold those responsible for using these weapons accountable.
He believes that the Syrian government still possesses a stockpile of the chemical weapons and can produce them.
Manso called for the international community to continue to politically pressure the Syrian government to change this policy and comply with international obligations by announcing its program of the weapons and dismantling or giving up its entire chemical weapons arsenal.
He stressed the continuous work on investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria despite attempts by the Syrian government to curb the work.
He highlighted Russia’s role in enabling al-Assad to crackdown the Syrian people, adding that it is very clear from the very beginning that Russia has been behind empowering “al-Assad regime” to crackdown and attack his people.
The real disaster is that the Syrian people themselves are the victim, according to the US Permanent Representative to the OPCW.