On Chemical Weapons in Syria, Ake Sellstrom Talks to Swedish Media, Silence on ISIS Threat to Aid Workers

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 21, updated -- Amid new reports of chemical weapons use in Syria, at 11:15 am Inner City Press was informed that no formal request had yet been made for a UN Security Council meeting. Still one was "expected."

Update: at 11:38 am, Inner City Press was told of a request by five countries for a UNSC meeting, at 3 pm or "5 pm the latest."

Update of 12:18 pm: the UNSC meeting will be at 3 pm.

  Three days ago the UN office of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the press that the UN "team investigating allegations about the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic arrived in Damascus... Please note the team will not be speaking to the media."

  Now, Swedish team leader Ake Sellstrom is quoted as telling Swedish news agency TT that "it sounds like something that should be looked into. It will depend on whether any UN member state goes to the secretary general and says we should look at this event."

So not only is Sellstrom "speaking to the media," one from his own country, but he is detailing or advising UN member states how to proceed.

  Ban Ki-moon is leaving for his native South Korea on August 21. Saudi Arabia, not a member of the Security Council, has called for a Security Council meeting. The UK has said it will raise it to the Security Council. For now, no Council meeting is scheduled for August 21. There is an August 22 session on Sudan and South Sudan.

  Inner City Press is informed, at least as of 11:15 am, that despite their public statements, either the UK nor France nor any other Security Council member has formally asked for a Council meeting on Syria. But it is still predicted.

  Separate from today's reports of chemical weapons, on August 20 there were urgent dispatches that the ISIS rebels had ordered humanitarian aid workers to leave northern Syria. The Free UN Coalition for Access asked if UN official Valerie Amos of her Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have any reaction to that. So far, no response. Watch this site.