UN inspectors to return to Syria Wednesday: Russia

Russia said the UN chemical weapons inspectors are expected to return to Syria Wednesday.

They would investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks at Khan al-Assal, Sheikh Maqsoud and Saraqeb, reported BBC, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

The inspectors had been preparing to do so when chemical weapons were fired at suburbs of Damascus Aug 21, killing hundreds of people. Last week, it was confirmed the nerve agent sarin was used in that attack.

The inspectors were not asked to ascertain who fired the artillery rockets which hit parts of the Ghouta agricultural belt, but Western powers have claimed that it could only have been Syrian government forces.

The Syrian and Russian governments have challenged these western powers to show firm evidence, while alleging that rebels were responsible of use of chemical weapons.

There have been 14 alleged cases of chemical weapons or chemical agent use in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011, according to UN war crimes investigator.

A team led by the Swedish scientist, Ake Sellstrom, visited Damascus Aug 18. They were preparing to travel north to conduct on-site inspections when the first reports of the Ghouta attack emerged.

After taking environmental, chemical and medical samples, and interviewing survivors and doctors between Aug 26 and 29, the UN inspectors flew out of Syria.