UN chemical weapons inspectors will return to Syria to investigate alleged attacks using poison gas, a top Russian diplomat has said.
"We are satisfied that our insistence that the UN experts' return was answered," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying Tuesday by Russia media.
The inspectors have determined that chemical weapons were used in an attack near Damascus on August 21 that killed hundreds and which the United States and its allies blame on the Syrian government.
The inspectors want to investigate other instances of alleged chemical weapons use, including a March attack on the town of Khan al-Assal, in the northern Aleppo province.
The August attack prompted the United States to threaten military strikes against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces are fighting rebels seeking his overthrow.
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A US-Russian deal this month to destroy Syria's chemical weapons arsenal by mid-2014 averted the strikes.
Under the deal, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will verify Syria's information on location and support the country in securing the weapons and facilities until their destruction. A more exact schedule was not yet known.
Syria is officially to become the 190th member state of the organisation on October 14, 2013. The OPCW is the responsible body for the implementation and supervision of the international Chemical Weapons Convention.
The United States, France and Britain have submitted a draft resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council, where members Russia and China are opposed to evoking Chapter VII, which would allow the use of force if Syria doesn't fulfil its commitments.
