Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PIX: 'Around 650 killed in chemical bombing near Damascus'

Last updated on: August 21, 2013 17:27 IST
A man sits in a hospital near two children who activists say were affected by nerve gas in the Ghouta region, in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus

Syria has vehemently denied the use of chemical weapons in an attack on the eastern suburbs of Damascus, which the opposition Syrian National Coalition claimed killed 650 people.  

The opposition branded the army bombardment a massacre and called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting. 

Click NEXT to see more PHOTOS...

PIX: 'Around 650 killed in chemical bombing near Damascus'

Last updated on: August 21, 2013 17:27 IST
Syrian activists inspect the bodies of people they say were killed by nerve gas in the Ghouta region, in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus

A Britain-based monitoring group earlier said that at least 100 people had been killed and the number was rising.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that gathers its information from activists and medics said the death toll is sure to go up.

Click NEXT to see more PHOTOS...

PIX: 'Around 650 killed in chemical bombing near Damascus'

Last updated on: August 21, 2013 17:27 IST
People, affected by what activists say is nerve gas, are treated at a hospital

Activists say that hundreds of people died of gas inhalation and exposure to a nerve gas.

Syrian authorities, who denied the charges, said, "Reports on the use of chemical weapons in Ghouta are totally false," state news agency SANA reported. "It's an attempt to prevent the UN commission of inquiry from carrying out its mission."

Click NEXT to see more PHOTOS...

PIX: 'Around 650 killed in chemical bombing near Damascus'

Last updated on: August 21, 2013 17:27 IST
A youth, affected by what activists say is nerve gas, is treated at a hospital

"I call on the Security Council to convene urgently," National Coalition leader Ahmed al-Jarba told Al-Arabiya news channel.

Reuters reported that Britain would raise the reported chemical attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the United Nations Security Council and called on Damascus to give UN inspectors access to the site.

TOP photo features of the week

Last updated on: August 21, 2013 17:27 IST

Click on MORE to see another set of PHOTO features...