UN Inspectors Leave Syria, Damascus Expects Military Attack Any Moment

Local Editor

Syria expects a military attack "at any moment," a security official told AFP Saturday, just hours after UN experts probing a suspected gas attack left the country.

"We are expecting an attack at any moment. We are ready to retaliate at any moment," said the Syrian security official, who wished to remain anonymous.
The 20-member UN team of chemical weapons inspectors - led by Ake Sellstrom and Angela Kane - had arrived in Damascus last week.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky had said on Friday that the team had completed "its collection of samples and evidence" and would be leaving Syria on Saturday.

He said that UN disarmament envoy Angela Kane had left Syria earlier on Friday.

Nesirky said that the team will "expedite" a report on whether chemical weapons have been used in the country's conflict.

"Dr Sellstrom's team is doing its utmost to expedite the process of analysis," Nesirky said while stressing "the need for rigorous attention to maintain the integrity of the process.
The departure of the UN inspectors has opened a window for a possible US strike after President Barack Obama on Friday gave his clearest indication yet that a military intervention was imminent.

He said his administration was looking at the possibility of a "limited, narrow act," while stressing no final decision had been taken on whether to unleash military strikes against Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The UN inspectors are due to report straight back to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and detail their conclusions on whether a poison gas attack actually did take place on August 21, based on samples collected on site.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team