JORDAN HOSTS OF ARMY CHIEFS FOR SYRIA TALKS

       Amman, 19 Shawwal 1434/ 26 August 2013 (MINA) – The Military commanders from Western and Middle East countries are meeting in Jordan to discuss the Syria conflict, as Western powers weigh military action in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.

       US military chief Martin Dempsey to attend the meeting with several army chiefs of staff. The meeting, which was expected to start late on Sunday, came at the invitation of Jordan’s chief of staff Meshaal Mohamed al-Zaban and General Lloyd Austin, head of Centcom, the US command responsible for 20 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, according to Jordanian officials.

        US,  Britain and France,  said they believe Assad’s government was behind the massive attack that killed many hundreds of people last week.

        While Syria has denied allegations it used chemical weapons on civilians in a Damascus suburb and announced it will allow United Nations chemical weapons inspectors to visit Ghouta, Damascus.  

         In Beirut, Syria’s Information Minister  Omran Zoabi said the government never used chemical weapons. “We have not done this in the past, the present, nor will we in the future. This is the definitive position for the Syrian leadership in this subject.”

         Zoabi acknowledged that chemical agents have been used in Syria — but not by the government.

         “We know who used these weapons — armed terrorist groups. We have evidence and information and there is satellite imagery that Russia mentioned. People are suffering and they are witnesses.”

         Earlier on Sunday, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the US military was ready to take action against the Syrian government if ordered, Al Jazeera reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

         Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said the meeting had been scheduled for months. “The meeting is not a reaction to what happened recently in Syria. It is one of a series of meetings of the army chiefs of countries concerned about the situation in Syria,” he added.

        “At the same time, the meeting will discuss the situation and scenarios on the ground, especially after the recent dangerous developments. The army chiefs have to have comprehensive talks and examine the impact on the region.”

         Syria’s information minister Omran al-Zoabi has said any US military action would “create a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East”.(T/P04/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)