Syria faces sanctions at chemical weapons watchdog

THE HAGUE: The world’s chemical weapons watchdog will decide this week whether to impose unprecedented sanctions on Syria for its alleged use of toxic arms and failure to declare its arsenal.

Member states of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will weigh a French proposal to suspend Syria’s “rights and privileges” at the body, including its ability to vote.

Damascus is accused of failing to answer key questions after an OPCW probe last year found Syria attacked a rebel-held village with the nerve agent sarin and the toxic chemical chlorine in 2017.

“Syria’s refusal to faithfully deliver the requested information cannot and must not remain unanswered,” the European Union said in a joint statement to the United Nations last week.

“It is now up to the international community to take appropriate action.”

The three-day meeting opens on Tuesday.