Syria denies it's planning to use chemical weapons
Source: Agencies |
December 4, 2012, Tuesday
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SYRIA said yesterday it would not use chemical weapons against its own people.
The statements came amid media reports, citing both European and US officials, that Syria's chemical weapons had been relocated and could be prepared for use in response to dramatic gains by rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
"Syria has stressed repeatedly that it will not use these types of weapons, if they were available, under any circumstances one against its people," the foreign ministry said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had earlier warned that Washington would take action if Syria used the weapons.
"I am not going to telegraph any specifics what we do in the event of credible evidence that the Assad regime has resorted to using chemical weapons against their own people, but suffice to say, we are certainly planning to take action if that eventuality were to occur," she said during a visit yesterday to Prague, Czech Republic.
The opposition believe Assad, who has upped his response to rebel gains in the 20-month-old revolt, could turn to heavier weapons and some have suggested he might use chemical weapons.
The rebels have begun to advance quickly in recent weeks after months of slow sieges to cut off army routes and supplies.
In the past few weeks, they seized several military bases around the country, and an oil field and hydro-electric dam in the northeast.
Rebels are using anti-aircraft weapons to attack the military helicopters and fighter jets that have bombarded their positions with impunity until now.
The main focus for the army in the past five days has been Damascus, where security forces are pushing back hard against the rebels and trying to seal the capital off from rebel-dominated suburbs.
Other activists reported heavy bombardment of the towns of Deir al-Asafir and Beit Saham, which are close to the highway leading to Damascus International Airport, the scene of three days of intense clashes that effectively closed the airport.
EgyptAir said late yesterday that a flight from Cairo to Damascus turned back because of the "bad security situation" at the Syrian capital's airport.
All other airlines contacted said their flights were still suspended, citing concerns by local staff that the road was still unsafe.
Rebels have been planning an advance on the capital.
The statements came amid media reports, citing both European and US officials, that Syria's chemical weapons had been relocated and could be prepared for use in response to dramatic gains by rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
"Syria has stressed repeatedly that it will not use these types of weapons, if they were available, under any circumstances one against its people," the foreign ministry said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had earlier warned that Washington would take action if Syria used the weapons.
"I am not going to telegraph any specifics what we do in the event of credible evidence that the Assad regime has resorted to using chemical weapons against their own people, but suffice to say, we are certainly planning to take action if that eventuality were to occur," she said during a visit yesterday to Prague, Czech Republic.
The opposition believe Assad, who has upped his response to rebel gains in the 20-month-old revolt, could turn to heavier weapons and some have suggested he might use chemical weapons.
The rebels have begun to advance quickly in recent weeks after months of slow sieges to cut off army routes and supplies.
In the past few weeks, they seized several military bases around the country, and an oil field and hydro-electric dam in the northeast.
Rebels are using anti-aircraft weapons to attack the military helicopters and fighter jets that have bombarded their positions with impunity until now.
The main focus for the army in the past five days has been Damascus, where security forces are pushing back hard against the rebels and trying to seal the capital off from rebel-dominated suburbs.
Other activists reported heavy bombardment of the towns of Deir al-Asafir and Beit Saham, which are close to the highway leading to Damascus International Airport, the scene of three days of intense clashes that effectively closed the airport.
EgyptAir said late yesterday that a flight from Cairo to Damascus turned back because of the "bad security situation" at the Syrian capital's airport.
All other airlines contacted said their flights were still suspended, citing concerns by local staff that the road was still unsafe.
Rebels have been planning an advance on the capital.
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