- The Washington Times - Friday, April 19, 2013

There is evidence that Syria’s government forces used chemical weapons in several areas around Homs, Aleppo and even Damascus, British and French diplomats told the U.N. on Friday.

The evidence takes the form of soil samples and eyewitness accounts, the diplomats said to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, United Press International reported. The diplomats say the evidence is not conclusive, but demands further investigation. And officials in Luxembourg, South Korea and Japan are calling for the United Nations to act, too.

“We are pressing the United Nations to investigate further and raising our concerns with international partners,” one unnamed British diplomat said, in a report from the Los Angeles Times.

President Obama has said on prior occasions that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a “game changer” that could lead to more Western intervention. So far, outside nations have only supplied rebel forces with non-lethal aid that includes medical supplies and food.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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