Government dropped chlorine bombs in Aleppo, Syrian activists say

Syrian activists and rescue workers in the rebel-held part of the contested city of Aleppo say the government dropped suspected chlorine bombs Tuesday on a crowded neighbourhood, injuring dozens.

The report could not be independently verified, and it was not clear how it was determined that chlorine gas was released.

Accusations involving use of chlorine and other poisonous gases are not uncommon in Syria's civil war, and both sides have denied using them while blaming the other for using it as a weapon of war. Last month, there were at least two reports of suspected chlorine attacks in Aleppo also, while the Syrian government also blamed the opposition for using the gas.

Patientsin critical care

In Tuesday's attack, a medical report from one of the hospitals in the besieged eastern rebel-held part of Aleppo was shared with journalists via text messages. It said at least 71 persons, including 37 children and 10 women, were treated for breathing difficulties, dry cough, and that their clothes smelled of chlorine. The report said 10 of the patients are in critical care, including a pregnant woman.

IbrahemAlhaj, a member of the Syria Civil Defence first responders' team, said he got to the scene in the crowdedal-Sukkarineighbourhood shortly after a helicopter dropped barrels containing what he said were four chlorine cylinders. He said he himself had difficulty breathing and used a mask soaked in salt water to prevent irritation.

At least 80 civilians were taken to hospitals and treated for breathing difficulties, he said. A video by the rescuers shows children crying and men coughing.

"Most of those injured where women and children," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It is a crowded neighbourhood."

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The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 70 people suffered from breathing difficulties after a barrel bomb attack in al-Sukkari on Tuesday. The Observatory's chief, Rami Abdurrahman, said he could not ascertain if it was chlorine gas attack.

Chlorine gas is a crude weapon that can be fatal in high concentrations. In lower doses, it can damage lungs or cause severe breathing difficulties and other symptoms, including vomiting and nausea.

No sanctionsfor previous attacks

A team of international inspectors determined in late August that the Syrian government andIslamic State in Iraq and Syria militants were responsible for chemical attacks carried out in 2014 and 2015. But the UN Security Council failed to agree on whether to impose sanctions on the government in line with a September 2013 resolution authorizing sanctions that can be militarily enforced for any use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The resolution followed Syria's approval of a Russian proposal to relinquish its chemical weapons stockpile and join the Chemical Weapons Convention. That averted a U.S. military strike in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.

Russia, a close Syrian government ally, has blocked sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Efforts madefor ceasefire

Fighting in the deeply contested city of Aleppo has not let up despite international efforts to establish a ceasefire. On Sunday, Syrian pro-government forces backed by airstrikes launched a wide offensive in the city, capturing areas they lost last month and besieging rebel-held neighbourhoods once more after a breach in the siege a month earlier.

On Tuesday, a Turkish spokesman said Turkey was pushing for aceasefirein Aleppo that would extend through the Muslim religious holiday of Eidal-Adha, due to begin Monday. SpokesmanIbrahimKalinsaid PresidentRecepTayyipErdoganspoke to his U.S. and Russian counterparts during the G20 meeting in China about theceasefire.

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Kalintold private broadcaster NTV Tuesday that the initial plan was for a 48-hourceasefire.

Erdoganalso repeated calls for a safe-zone to be established between the Syrian towns ofAzazandJarablusin Aleppo province, to protect civilians. Turkey has pushed for a safe zone in Syria since at least 2014.

Turkey sent tanks into Syria last month to support rebel forces against ISISin the town ofJarablus. It expanded its operation into nearbyal-Raiover the weekend.