Ban Ki-moon says UN team on chemical weapons to imminently travel to Syria

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says UN inspectors will ‘imminently’ travel to Syria to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the country.

“The Government of Syria has formally accepted the modalities essential for cooperation to ensure the proper, safe and efficient conduct of the mission,” Ban said on Wednesday. “The departure of the team is now imminent.”

UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said the team of inspectors will stay in Syria for up to 14 days, extendable upon mutual consent, and conduct “on-site” visits.

The exact date of the visit was not provided.

Reports say the team will investigate three sites in which chemical weapons were allegedly used.

Del Buey said that the UN believes an effective investigation into allegations can serve as an “important deterrent” against the use of chemical weapons.

The team is to be led by arms expert Ake Sellstrom of Sweden and UN disarmament chief Angela Kane.

Earlier this month, Martin Nesirky, the spokesman for the UN secretary general, said that the UN team of inspectors was finalizing preparations ahead of the trip to Syria.

The United States and its allies, such as the UK and France, have accused Damascus of using chemical weapons.

Syria has categorically denied the allegations, saying Takfiris have used chemical weapons on several occasions, including an attack in the region of Khan al-Assal in Aleppo Province on March 19, where over two dozen people died.

Syria has been gripped by a deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of government forces, have been killed in the violence.