ASSAD MAY HAVE ALREADY DEPLOYED CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will use chemical weapons against opposition forces and may have already deployed them.

That’s what Nawaf Fares, the first Syrian ambassador to defect, has told the BBC.

Fares, the most prominent politician to defect since the uprising against Assad began, insists the president's days are numbered but warns he’ll be prepared "to eradicate the entire Syrian people" to remain in power.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council will vote tomorrow, on a Western-backed resolution that threatens Syrian authorities with sanctions if they do not stop using heavy weapons in towns.

The move comes despite a declaration by Russia that it will block the bid.

The resolution, proposed by Britain, the United States, France and Germany, would extend a U.N. observer mission in Syria for 45 days.

It would also put international envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.

Chapter 7 allows the 15-member council to authorize actions ranging from diplomatic and economic sanctions to military intervention.

However U.S. officials have emphasised they are talking about sanctions, rather than the alternative.

LOCAL NEWS

News is proudly sponsored by: