Syria Agrees to U.N. Inspection of Alleged Chemical Attack

Government Says It Will Allow Inspectors Now in Damascus Immediate Access to Targeted Areas.

Syria announced Sunday that it would allow United Nations inspectors currently present in Damascus immediate access to areas around the capital where the opposition accused the regime of using chemical weapons against fighters and civilians five days ago.

The U.N. said its inspection team was expected to start its fact-finding mission Monday.

The Syrian statement said the timing of the visit would be coordinated between the U.N. team led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom and the Syrian government.

“The foreign minister affirmed Syria’s desire to cooperate with the team of inspectors to unmask the falsehood of the allegations by terrorist groups that Syrian forces used chemical weapons in the eastern Ghouta,” it added, referring to the eastern suburbs of Damascus and using the government’s term for the rebels battling the regime.

Hundreds of people died in last Wednesday’s attack, and human-rights groups say victims bear the hallmarks of sarin nerve gas.

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