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Foreign Secretary concerned by horrific reports of chemical weapon use in Syria

Foreign Secretary urges OPCW mission to determine urgently the facts behind recent reports of chemical weapon use in Syria. 

Speaking after the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced its decision to send a mission to Syria to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use against Syrian civilians, William Hague said:

The UK pushed hard to secure an investigation and we call on the OPCWto carry out its mandate with urgency.

Reports suggesting that chemical weapons have again been used, heaping further misery on the people of Syria, are utterly sickening.

Time is of the essence in establishing the full facts. The mission must be given full access to all sites and be allowed to carry out its investigation without any interference or delay.

The UK will give strong support to the OPCW, including offering any assistance that the mission needs in order to bring to the world the full truth about these horrific allegations.

The international community must be ready to hold anyone found to have used chemical weapons fully accountable for their crimes.

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