UN chemical inspectors to probe 7 sites in Syria

The UN said that its inspectors in Syria will investigate a total of seven sites where chemical weapons were allegedly used, including a Damascus suburb where hundreds were killed last month. The UN office in Damascus said in a statement Friday that its team will write up a report "it hopes will be ready by late October." It was previously thought the UN probe would only look into three locations in Syria, AP reported. The August 21 chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta has killed hundreds of people. Ghouta has been the focus of the UN team so far. The Northern town of Khan al-Assal is also on the list. On Wednesday, UN chemical weapons inspectors returned to Syria to continue investigating allegations of chemical weapons use. A convoy of five UN cars carrying at least eight inspectors arrived at a central Damascus hotel shortly before midday (09:00 GMT), Reuters reported, citing witnesses. At the time of the reported August 21 sarin attack, the inspectors had been in Damascus preparing to investigate three earlier cases. Syrian authorities denied the accusation of the chemical weapons use, saying the militants were responsible.