Ban Ki-moon holds phone call with Sellstorm over Syrian chemical investigation

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held a phone call on Sunday with Dr. Ake Sellstrom, the head of the United Nations Mission investigating allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Martin Nesirky, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, made a statement to reporters in which he said that Sellstrom had informed the Secretary-General about the following chapters of the investigation process which was conducted between August 19-31 in Syria. Noting that the findings collected from the region would be sent to laboratories on Tuesday, Nesirky also recorded that Dr. Sellstrom had told the Secretary-General that two Syrian officials were observing the process. Nesirky stated the Secretary-General had demanded that Dr. Sellstrom swiftly finalize the investigation process over the incidents which occurred in the Ghouta area of Damascus on August 21, 2013, ensuring that no errors affect the scientific process. In addition, Nesirky said Ban Ki-moon had held negotiations with member countries over the issue and, in this sense, would inform all the members of the UN Security Council on September 3, 2013. Meanwhile, Nesirky reiterated the Secretary-General's demand that the investigations of the weapon inspectors be given a chance.