23/08/2013 11:18
Syria 'chemical' attack: Ban Ki-moon urges swift probe
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the alleged chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital "needs to be investigated without delay," BBC reported.
He is sending disarmament chief Angela Kane to Damascus to press for an investigation, his spokesman Eduardo del Buey said on Thursday.
Earlier, France said a "reaction with force" might be needed.
Meanwhile, UN agencies say the number of children forced to flee Syria has reached one million.
The UN's refugee agency and Unicef described the figure as "a shameful milestone", saying a further two million children are displaced within the country.
Activists say hundreds were killed in Wednesday's attack on the Ghouta area of Damascus.
The Syrian government has described the allegations of chemical weapons' use as "illogical and fabricated." The Syrian army said opposition forces had made up the claims to divert attention from their recent huge losses.
"I can think of no good reason why any party - either government or opposition forces - would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," said Ban Ki-moon, speaking the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Friday.
"Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anybody, under any circumstances, would violate international law," he went on. "Such a crime against humanity should result in serious consequences for the perpetrator."