Syria blocks weapons inspectors from attack site

Russians help keep group from checking out Douma

The international chemical weapons watchdog that sent a fact-finding team to Syria said Monday that Syrian and Russian officials blocked efforts to reach the site where rebels claim government forces unleashed chemical weapons against civilians.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said the team arrived in Damascus on Saturday and met with government officials to work out a plan for deployment to Douma.

The Syrian and the Russian officials informed the team that “pending security issues” needed to be worked out before the group went to Douma, the organization’s director general, Ahmet Uzumcu, told an emergency meeting of the group’s executive council in The Hague, Netherlands.

“I hope that all necessary arrangements will be made through the (U.N. Department of Safety and Security) to allow the team to deploy to Douma as soon as possible,” Uzumcu said.

Russia initially blamed the delay on the United Nations, saying it had not provided the proper approvals. The U.N. Department of Safety and Security, however, said it had provided the necessary clearances.

Russian then blamed security problems on the heels of last week’s joint, retaliatory missile strikes conducted by the U.S., Britain and France. The strikes targeted Syria’s chemical weapons facilities.

Uzumcu said the Syrians had agreed to allow the fact-finding team to interview 22 witnesses who would be brought to Damascus. But he stressed the need for the team to investigate the site.

The rebel Syria Civil Defense Force says more than 40 people were killed and entire families were gassed to death in the attack, which drew global outrage. President Donald Trump blasted “that animal” Syrian President Bashar Assad and said blame also fell on Russia and Iran for supporting his regime.

In addition to the missile strike in Syria, economic sanctions could be placed on Russia, the administration has said.

Syria and Russia have steadfastly denied the chemical weapons allegations. Both countries had invited the weapons watchdog group to send in the investigative team.