Syria opposition claims hundreds dead in 'gas' attacks, Government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad have carried out a "poisonous gas" attack near the capital Damascus that has left hundreds dead, Syrian opposition groups claimed Wednesday.
Anti-government activists are saying that regime forces fired "rockets with poisonous gas heads" in the attack. The number of reported deaths has ranged from 100 to close to 800. The claims and reports could not be independently confirmed.
The Syrian government denied the claims of a chemical weapons attack Wednesday.
"All what has been said is ridiculous and naive, unscientific, illogical and subjective," said Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi, speaking to Syrian state television.
The state-run SANA news agency said there was no truth to the allegations "whatsoever" that chemical weapons were used.
"They are an attempt to divert the United Nations commission on chemical weapons from carrying out its mission," the news agency said.
U.N. chemical weapons inspectors are in Syria this week to investigate claims that chemical weapons have been used there by both sides in a bloody and protracted civil war.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shelling was intense and hit the eastern suburbs of Zamalka, Arbeen and Ein Tarma. Rami Abdul-Rahman from the SOHR says he has documented at least 100 deaths from Wednesday's attack. He says it's not clear whether the victims died from shelling or toxic gas attacks.
The Local Coordination Committees said hundreds of people, perhaps as many as 775, were killed or injured in the shelling. Such different figures are common in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Syria.
Anti-government activists are saying that regime forces fired "rockets with poisonous gas heads" in the attack. The number of reported deaths has ranged from 100 to close to 800. The claims and reports could not be independently confirmed.
The Syrian government denied the claims of a chemical weapons attack Wednesday.
"All what has been said is ridiculous and naive, unscientific, illogical and subjective," said Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi, speaking to Syrian state television.
The state-run SANA news agency said there was no truth to the allegations "whatsoever" that chemical weapons were used.
"They are an attempt to divert the United Nations commission on chemical weapons from carrying out its mission," the news agency said.
U.N. chemical weapons inspectors are in Syria this week to investigate claims that chemical weapons have been used there by both sides in a bloody and protracted civil war.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shelling was intense and hit the eastern suburbs of Zamalka, Arbeen and Ein Tarma. Rami Abdul-Rahman from the SOHR says he has documented at least 100 deaths from Wednesday's attack. He says it's not clear whether the victims died from shelling or toxic gas attacks.
The Local Coordination Committees said hundreds of people, perhaps as many as 775, were killed or injured in the shelling. Such different figures are common in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Syria.
