UN investigates possible use of chemical weapons in Syria

The United Nations will investigate the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has announced.

A UN spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said France and Britain sent a letter to the Secretary-General asking for an investigation of three alleged chemical weapons attacks. He said Mr Ban will review this suggestion as the UN develops the mandate for the investigation. Syria is widely believed to have a large stockpile of chemical weapons. The government has not confirmed it, saying only that it would never use chemical weapons against its own people.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber blew himself up during evening prayers inside a mosque in Damascus, killing Sheikh Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Buti, a top Sunni Muslim preacher and supporter of President Assad.