UN security team shot at in Douma, says chemical weapons watchdog

A UN security team was shot at ahead of the planned arrival of chemical weapons inspectors in Syria, according to the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Chemical weapons inspectors were due to begin work in Douma today, 11 days after a suspected poison gas attack in the town. Syria’s UN ambassador had said the OPCW team would be given access to the site once a UN security team had deemed it safe.

Yesterday, Syrian government-run media reported the investigators were already in Douma. It followed a string of complaints by the US and UK that Russia was blocking the team from accessing the area, which Russia denied.

(THE INDEPENDENT)