UN chemical weapons experts leave Damascus

Two senior UN inspectors tasked with examining claims that chemical weapons have been deployed in Syria`s civil war left Damascus on Thursday after talks with Syrian officials. UN media adviser Khaled al-Masri told AFP that Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom and UN high representative for disarmament Angela Kane departed after an official two-day visit to Damascus, during which the experts met with Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.? A source close to the Syrian government told AFP that the Syrian authorities reiterated their ?demand that the UN focuses its investigation the alleged use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Assal, ?near the northern city of Aleppo, on March 19. The source said the Syrian authorities informed the UN delegation that Khan al-Assal fell into rebel hands three days ago, and the ongoing clashes have complicated any effort to send in ?inspectors to visit the site. The ?Syrian regime told the international inspection committee to focus its attention on the Khan al-Assal incident, while the UN ?requested permission to tour other parts of Syria. London, Washington and Paris presented their findings of the use of chemical weapons in Syria to the UN, accusing President Bashar al-Assad's regime of human rights violations.