Syria’s main opposition group demands international investigation of alleged chemical attack

BEIRUT – Syria’s main opposition group is demanding a full international investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in the country’s north.

The Syrian National Coalition is also asking for an international delegation to be sent to the site of the missile attack in the village of Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province.

Wednesday’s call by the coalition comes a day after Syria’s government and rebels traded accusations about the purported chemical attack. If it’s confirmed, it would be the first time a chemical weapon was used in Syria’s two-year-long crisis.

Washington said there was no evidence a chemical attack had happened.

Syria’s state-run Al-Baath newspaper said Wednesday that countries backing the rebels are indirectly responsible for the attack. The report says the use of such weapons changes “the rules of the conflict.”