Syria invites global watchdog to Douma to probe chemical attack

Denying accusations that it unleashed a gas attack on the town of Douma, Syria's government has invited the global chemical watchdog, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to visit the rebel-held town where an alleged toxic gas attack killed dozens at the weekend, state media said on Tuesday.

Syria was ready to cooperate with a fact-finding team, state news agency SANA said citing a foreign ministry source.

"The ministry sent a formal invitation to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to send a team from its fact-finding mission to visit Douma and investigate claims linked to the alleged use of chemical weapons there," it said.

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The letter said Syria was ready to "provide all necessary assistance to the mission".

Douma is the last opposition town in the battered enclave of Eastern Ghouta near Syrian capital Damascus.

The OPCW's fact-finding mission for Syria was established in 2014 to confirm chemical weapons use, but it does not have the mandate to establish who is responsible.

Syria's letter came hours ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting on rival proposals by Russia and the United States on chemical weapons use.

Regime ally Moscow said it would propose a UN resolution on a "transparent and honest" investigation with the OPCW's involvement.

It said Syrian government troops could ensure the safety of OPCW experts if they were to travel to the scene, he added, criticising previous investigations for having been conducted from a distance.

The OPCW already says it is investigating but that so far only a "preliminary analysis" had taken place.