Sarin gas used in attack on Syrian town, says Turkey

Ankara, April 11 (IANS/AKI) Nerve agent Sarin was definitely used in a deadly attack on a rebel-held town in northern Syrias Idlib province on April 4, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said

on Tuesday, as per a media report.

"As a result of blood and urine samples taken from the victims subjected to the use of chemical war material in Idlib, Isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the metabolite of sarin gas, was confirmed," Akdag said, as per Turkish daily Hurriyet.

Around 30 victims were brought to Turkey for treatment following the attack on Khan Sheikhoun in which Syrian activists cited doctors as saying victims fainted, vomited, choked and foamed at the mouth.

The Syrian pro-opposition Edlib Media Centre and the opposition Local Co-ordination Committees network said after the attack the substance dropped was believed to be Sarin, which is highly toxic and is considered 20 times as deadly as cyanide.

Over 80 civilians including 20 children died in the atrocity, which drew international outrage. Syria and Russia deny they carried out a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

Initial findings collected from the autopsies of three Syrians who died after being brought to Turkey for treatment suggested the use of sarin gas, said Turkey's Health Ministry.

The autopsies were attended by representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Hurriyet said.

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