Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013


   (FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 3/20/13) 
   By Nour Malas

ISTANBUL -- Syria's government accused rebels of firing a chemical weapon Tuesday, levying the first such allegation against the rebel insurgency in two years of fighting and setting governments on edge from Moscow to Washington.

Rebels and their international backers denied the allegations and said they don't have access to chemical weapons.

Both activists and the government agreed that a rocket strike on Tuesday on the village of Khan Aasal, east of Aleppo, killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100. The nature of the attack was less clear.

Damascus said the rebels' foreign supporters, namely Qatar and Turkey, were responsible for what it called a chemical attack. Turkey's government denied any role in an attack. Qatar didn't respond to the accusations.

Western governments tracking Syria's chemical-weapons stockpiles, as well as eyewitnesses and activists, couldn't confirm that the weapon had a chemical warhead.

Medics from the Aleppo University hospital, where victims were being treated, reported cases of choking and phosphorous poisoning, according to two activists reached by phone. Weapons containing white phosphorous aren't considered chemical and have been used by the Syrian regime in this conflict, according to Human Rights Watch.

The Syrian allegation came a day after the main Syrian Opposition Coalition elected a prime minister in Turkey to lead an interim government. Representatives of the group, meeting in Istanbul, saw the regime's allegations as retaliation for attempts to challenge its rule.

Blame-trading isn't unusual in Syria's murky war. But the nature of Tuesday's allegations appeared to mark an escalation in the fight both inside Syria and on the international stage.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they are evaluating Damascus's accusations but that there is "no evidence" that the opposition used chemical weapons. "We are deeply skeptical of a regime that has lost all credibility," said Jay Carney, the White House press secretary. The White House and State Department suggested Damascus's charge may be a cover for President Bashar al-Assad regime's own use of chemical or biological weapons. "We would also warn the regime against making these kinds of charges as any kind of pretext or cover for its use of chemical weapons," Mr. Carney said.

The U.S. says Syria has a stockpile of sarin gas and other nonconventional chemical weapons. It has warned that the U.S. would consider the use of such weapons against civilians a "red line" that would trigger harsh repercussions. Syria has denied possessing such weapons.

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Adam Entous in Washington contributed to this article.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

20-03-13 0351GMT