シリア内戦が泥沼化する中、苦戦が伝えられる反体制派側から、首都ダマスカス郊外の戦闘で8月21日、アサド政権側が「毒ガスを使用し、1300人以上が死亡した」との主張が飛び出している。政権側の軍報道官は「でたらめであり悪質なプロパガンダだ」と反論し化学兵器の使用を否定した。産経新聞が伝えた。
NHKによると、シリアでは、政府軍と反政府勢力の双方がサリンなどの化学兵器を使用している疑いがあるとして、18日に国連の調査団がシリア国内に入り、今後、北部のアレッポなど3か所で調査に当たる予定。
反政府勢力の活動家はNHKの取材に対し、21日に首都ダマスカス郊外で、政府軍が化学兵器を使って反政府勢力の拠点に空爆を加え、数百人が死亡したと述べたほか、別の活動家は死者は1300人以上だとしている。
さらに、現地の野戦病院で撮影したとする映像をインターネット上に掲載し、化学兵器によって犠牲となった、子どもを含む多くの人々の遺体が運び込まれていると主張し、アサド政権への非難を強めている。
ハフィントン・ポストUS版では、YouTube上にアップされた現地の映像を紹介している。
【閲覧注意：下記の映像には、重篤の子どもを含む、多数の遺体を撮影した場面があります】
軍は化学兵器の使用を強く否定している。国営テレビは、活動家らは、シリア入りしている国連調査団の活動を妨害するために、情報をねつ造したと伝えた。
欧州連合(EU)など西側各国は、調査団を直ちに現場へ派遣するなどして、詳しく調べるよう求めている。
アメリカはアサド政権による化学兵器使用疑惑について懸念を示すとともに、国連に調査を正式に要請する意向を表明。ホワイトハウスのアーネスト報道官は、「アメリカ政府は国連に対し正式な調査を要請する。国連調査団はすでにシリアに到着しており、調査に着手することができる」とする声明を発表した。
国連安保理は、シリアの首都ダマスカス郊外での新たな化学兵器使用疑惑に関し、21日午後3時(日本時間22日午前4時)からの緊急会合を招集した。
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