UN’s del Ponte says evidence ‘rebels’ used sarin

Testimony from victims of the Syrian conflict suggests’ rebels ‘have used the nerve agent sarin, according to a leading United Nations investigator.

Carla del Ponte told Swiss TV there were “strong, concrete suspicions “.

However, she said her panel had not yet seen evidence of government forces using chemical weapons.

Syria has recently come under growing Western pressure over the alleged use of such weapons.

Ms del Ponte, who serves on the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said in an interview with Swiss-Italian TV: “Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals.

“According to their report of last week, which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated.”

She gave no details of when or where sarin may have been used.

Her commission was established in August 2011 .

It is due to issue its latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June.

M.D