U.N. calls for Syria chemical weapons probe

DAMASCUS -- U.N. inspectors in Syria face a race against time to get to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack to gather vital evidence, but the big question Friday is whether red tape will prevent that.

Since it is not a working day in Syria, government offices are closed and many government officials are off. Syria's heavy bureaucracy may also mire the progress of the international demands for access.

The U.N. team is in Syria to examine previous claims of chemical weapons use at three unrelated sites, so it needs special permission to go to the scene of the latest alleged attack in Ghouta, a rebel stronghold on the outskirts of the capital.

The area, which is contested, appeared to be the target of shelling again Thursday night.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that allegations the Syrian regime used chemical weapons should be investigated immediately, adding there was "no time to waste" in getting the team into Ghouta.

He said he had called on the Syrian government to allow the team access and was sending U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane to Damascus to press the case for an urgent investigation.

"I can think of no good reason why any party -- either government or opposition forces -- would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," Ban said.

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