Swedish professor to head fact-finding mission on alleged chemical weapons use in Syria

An accomplished scientist from Sweden will head the UN fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Professor Ǻke Sellström is a project manager at a Swedish research institute which coordinates research and education in dealing with chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosive materials.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.

While he does not know when the mission will start its work, Mr. Sellström told UN Radio he was honoured to be appointed.

"I guess we have three or four days of preparation; we will have three or four days of inspection, and we will have like two to three weeks of report writing and chemical analysis."

Mr. Sellström had served as chief inspector with the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) and also as senior adviser to the chairmen of UNSCOM and the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) for the disarmament of Iraq.

UNRadio