New details released from UN report on Syria

The head of the UN panel on war crimes in Syria says it’s investigating 14 suspect chemical attacks as some new details surface from the long-awaited UN report into the allegations.

The panel says it believes Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s government is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those claims are being backed by some new information in a separate UN report.

Some details from the report have been released, although the full report isn’t expected to be made public until later today.

UN inspectors say there is clear and convincing evidence that chemical weapons were used in an attack in Syria last month that killed hundreds of people.

The team says environmental, chemical and medical samples they collected in the Damascus suburbs provide evidence that rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used.

Meanwhile, in a deal worked out between the US and Russia, Syria has been given a week to list where all of its chemical weapons can be found.

America Secretary of State, John Kerry, says, “If Assad fails to comply with the terms of this framework, make no mistake, we are all agreed – and that includes Russia – that there will be consequences. The framework fully commits the United States and Russia to impose measures under chapter 7 of the UN charter in the event of non-compliance… and President Obama and I have repeated his statement … that should diplomacy fail, the military option is still on the table.”

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon will brief the security council this morning on the inspectors report and speak to the general assembly afterwards.