The departure of U.N. chemical weapons experts to Syria has been delayed because an agreement hasn’t been reached with the Syrian government on arrangements for the investigation of three incidents of alleged chemical weapons use, the United Nations said Tuesday.U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said the investigation team led by Swedish chemical weapons expert Ake Sellstrom completed its logistical arrangements for the visit over the weekend. Del Buey said U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane was continuing consultations with the Syrian government “with a view to reaching agreement as soon as possible on the modalities essential for cooperation to ensure the proper, safe and efficient conduct of the mission.”
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky had said on Aug. 6 that preparations were expected to be completed “within the next days, following which the date of the mission in Syria will be announced.”
The U.N. did not say what specific issues were holding up the teamÂ’s departure.
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The team is expected to visit Khan al Assal, a village on the southwestern outskirts of the embattled city of Aleppo which was captured by the rebels in late July. The government and rebels blame each other for a purported chemical attack on the village on March 19 that killed at least 30 people.
The experts are expected to investigate two other incidents whose locations are being kept secret for safety and security reasons.
U.N. Mideast envoy Robert Serry told the Security Council last month that the U.N. has received 13 reports of alleged chemical weapons use in Syria.
The investigation team includes about 10 experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is based in The Hague, and the World Health Organization, based in Geneva. Its mandate is to report on whether chemical weapons were used, and if so which ones, but not to determine the responsibility for an attack.