Investigators from the global chemical arms watchdog finally collected samples on Saturday from the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria two weeks ago, after security concerns delayed their probe.
“The samples collected will be transported to the OPCW Laboratory in Rijswijk and then dispatched for analysis to the OPCW’s designated labs,” Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement, adding it could plan another visit.
Russia’s foreign ministry had earlier announced the inspectors reached Douma after guarantees by Syria and its own forces, and said it expected them to carry out an “impartial investigation”.
Moscow, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has said its own probe into the events in Douma found no traces of chemical use. Assad’s government, too, has repeatedly denied using toxic weapons, and accused the West of “fabricating” the claim to justify bombing Syria.
