The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will help the United Nations to probe into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, the OPCW said on Thursday.

"The OPCW stands ready to extend its full support to the Secretary-General," the OPCW said on its website.

"While allegations of this nature are not new to conflict situations, they are nonetheless serious, especially in the context of Syria which is not a state party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This remains a matter of serious concern," it said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced his decision to launch an inquiry into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. The UN would cooperate with the OPCW and the World Health Organization (WHO), he said.

The Syrian government on Wednesday asked the UN to send an independent mission to investigate a reported chemical weapons attack by rebels in the country's northern province of Aleppo, Syria's UN representative Bashar Ja'afari told reporters.

At least 25 people were killed and 130 others wounded Tuesday when armed men fired a rocket stuffed with chemical materials at the Khan al-Asal, said Syrian state media, claiming opposition fighters were responsible. However, the rebels denied the accusations and instead accused the government of committing the misdeed. Endi

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