Turkish premier says Syrian government used chemical weapons

Turkish premier says Syrian government used chemical weapons

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons despite a new UN finding on the possible use of the nerve agent, sarin, by foreign-backed militants in the Arab country.

In an interview with American television channel NBC on Thursday, Erdogan said he believes that Syria has used chemical weapons, crossing a “red line” set by US President Barack Obama, without providing details on when or where they were used.

“We want the United States to assume more responsibilities and take further steps. And what sort of steps they will take, we are going to talk about this,” said Erdogan, calling for stronger US action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Erdogan, who is scheduled to meet Obama on May 16, rejected reports that insurgents may have used chemical material, saying they have no access to such weapons.

Erdogan’s comments come days after the United Nations investigators said they have found testimony from victims and medical staff that shows militants have used sarin -- classified as a weapon of mass destruction in the UN Resolution 687 -- in Syria.

The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria could not find any evidence that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons against militants, commission member Carla Del Ponte said on May 5.

The Syria crisis began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.