Assad Regime Uses Poison Gas in Harasta, Rural Damascus

Press Statement

Badr Jamous

Syrian Coalition Secretary General

April 11, 2014

We condemn the Assad regime's abhorrent use of poison gas and highly concentrated pesticides today, in the town of Harasta, rural Damascus, against innocent civilians. The attack follows a series of poison gas attacks in different areas in rural Damascus, including Daraya on January 13, Harasta on March 29, and Jober on April 3rd.

Assad is dragging his feet over the elimination of the chemical weapons arsenal, missing a series of deadlines while at the same time spraying people with gas on a scale- he thinks- small enough to avoid world condemnation.

The international community has a moral duty to voice its rejection of this crime and indeed take immediate firm steps to restrain a regime that is prepared to use all kinds of conventional and unconventional weapons to cling to power.

Assad must receive a strong message; that the world will not stand for the spraying of innocent men, women, and children with poison gas, and that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes will be brought to justice.