Syria denies having used chemical arms near Damascus

Syria has denied accusations that it has used chemical arms against foreign-backed militants near Damascus, saying the false claims against the government aim to distract UN weapons experts, State TV reports.

On Wednesday, Damascus denied the alleged chemical attack on the eastern suburbs of the capital in a statement aired on State TV.

The statement said that there was “no truth whatsoever” to the claims and they are false.

Militants claim that Syrian forces used chemical gas in Zamalka, Arbeen and Ein Tarma.

The allegations come as a United Nations team of chemical weapons experts visits the country at request of the Syrian government.

On Sunday, the team, led by arms expert Ake Sellstrom of Sweden and UN disarmament chief, Angela Kane, arrived at the Four Season Hotel in Damascus.

During the mission, which is expected to last for two weeks, the team is to investigate Khan al-Assal area, near Aleppo. Two other sites are also to be investigated.

Syria says 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.

A Russian-led inquiry revealed that militants had carried out a chemical attack in Khan al-Assal in March.

Syria has been gripped by a deadly unrest since March 2011.

The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million others displaced since the outbreak of the violence.