The results from Turkish autopsies on victims of a suspected poison gas attack in northwest Syria will be sent to the Dutch capital of The Hague for an additional examination, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said on Thursday.
More than 70 people were killed in the suspected chemical attack on Tuesday in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province.
Turkish officials say dozens were brought to Turkey for treatment, and three of them died.
Earlier, Turkish media quoted Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying that results from autopsies conducted on three Syrians brought to Turkey after the assault show they were subjected to a chemical weapons attack.
The private DHA news agency quotes Bozdag as saying on Thursday that “it was determined after the autopsy that a chemical weapon was used.”
Turkish media also reported that the World Health Organization experts had taken part in the autopsies conducted in a hospital in the Turkish city of Adana late on Wednesday on Syrian victims.
Another victims of the attack was treated at a hospital in Turkey. Three Syrians died in hospital in Turkey, and their autopsy results will be sent to The Hague for an additional examination. (IHA/Associated Press)
‘Watershed moment’
The top humanitarian aid official with the United Nations Syria office says he believes an awareness of the need to protect civilians is “sinking in” after the attack.
Jan Egeland expressed hopes for a “watershed moment” with “all of these world leaders saying that say they have again woken up to the suffering of the civilians that we see every day.”
Egeland spoke to reporters on Thursday after a meeting of the UN’s humanitarian “task force” for Syria.
He said the world body needs a “green light” to reach 1 million people in hard-to-reach and besieged areas of the war-torn country. He also called for 72-hour ceasefires in the key zones of fighting so aid can get in, and protection for hospitals and evacuees who choose to leave violent areas voluntarily.
Syrian minister denies use of chemical weapons
The Syrian foreign minister is categorically denying his government used chemical weapons in the attack in Idlib province or in any other attack.
Walid Moallem told reporters at a press conference in Damascus on Thursday that “the Syrian Arab Army has never used chemical weapons and will not use chemical weapons against Syrians and even against terrorists.”
He says the Syrian army bombed a warehouse for al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria that contained chemical weapons, echoing the Russian defense ministry’s claim.
He denounced the “chorus” of accusations against Syria, which he says was launched by countries known for their hostility.
Moallem also said Samascus needs assurances that any fact-finding mission into Idlib’s attack would be impartial and not politicized.
Walid Moallem says Syria’s experience with past missions is “not encouraging.”
He told a press conference in the Syrian capital on Thursday that any investigative mission would need to take off from Damascus and be far from the sphere of Turkish influence.
Moallem was asked if Syria would accept an international investigation. He said that “when we are sure we have convincing answers to these questions, we will give you an answer.”
