Interfax: Moscow discloses expert findings related to use of chemical weapons in Syria

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 4, 2013) Moscow hopes that the conclusions of Russian experts concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria will prompt a more thorough examination of the developments in that country without blaming the government without clear evidence.

“We are drawing attention to the massive flow of various reports meant to place the responsibility for the possible use of war chemicals in Syria on Damascus before the appearance of the results of the UN study. Thus grounds are being prepared for military action against Syria. Considering this we find it possible to share the main conclusions of the Russian study of samples taken from the scene of use of chemical weapons in a suburb of Aleppo,” a Russian Foreign Ministry commentary says.

“The tragedy in which 26 civilians and Syrian army servicemen died and 86 more were injured took place on March 19,” the ministry notes.

The main conclusions of Russian experts, according to the ministry, are as follows: “The charge used was not a regular charge of the Syrian army but a home-made one. Its type and parameters are similar to the projectiles produced in North Syria by the so-called Bashari an-Nasr brigade. Hexogen which is not used in regular war chemicals was used as the main charge in the ammunition.”

“Besides that, sarin nerve agent produced in non-industrial conditions and diisopropylfluorophosphate used by Western states for purposes of chemical warfare during World War II were discovered in the samples from the charge and soil,” the Foreign Ministry report says.