Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


       Turkey Sends Team to Screen for Chemical Weapons on Syrian Border

   by Reuters

   Turkey has sent a team of eight experts to the border with Syria to
   test wounded victims of the country's civil war for traces of chemical
   and biological weapons, the state-run Anatolian news agency said on
   Thursday.

   Turkey started testing blood samples last week from Syrian casualties
   brought over the border for treatment to determine whether they were
   victims of a chemical weapons attack.

   The civil defense team, equipped with a specialist vehicle which can
   detect evidence of chemical, biological and nuclear substances, has
   been stationed at the Cilvegozu border gate near the town of Reyhanli,
   Anatolian said.
   Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposing rebels have
   accused each other of using chemical weapons.
   Britain said on Thursday it believed it was "very likely'' that the
   Syrian government had used chemical weapons, but that it had "no
   evidence to date'' that the rebels had used them.
   Washington has long said it views the use of chemical weapons in Syria
   as a "red line''. But, wary of the false intelligence that was used to
   justify the 2003 war in Iraq, the United States says it wants proof
   before taking any action.

   Turkey's Star newspaper, which is close to the government, reported on
   Thursday that the forensic institute that has been testing the blood
   samples had found traces of ricin, a highly toxic substance which can
   be used as a chemical warfare agent.

   Turkish officials have declined to confirm whether the tests have been
   completed or to comment on any results.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-chemical-weapons-team-syria-bo
   rder/1657761.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/turkey-chemical-weapons-team-syria-border/1657761.html