Turkey has reinforced its defensive measures against potential chemical attack along the border with Syria due to the threat of chemical weapons in the unrest-torn neighbor, an official said on Friday.

Fuat Oktay, a disaster and emergency management official, said that about 400 chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialists have started extra exercises in Turkey's southern provinces of Hatay, Kilis, and Sanliurfa as a measure to contain chemical attacks from Syria.

"Our team has deployed the necessary technical equipment in those provinces and is screening injured Syrians at the border to determine whether they have been exposed to any chemical attack. So far, no evidence of chemical attacks has been found," said Oktay.

The official added that Turkish specialists, who are well- trained in responding to chemical attacks, have been performing regular practices in several provinces of Turkey along with health and security units since five month ago.

Security measures against a chemical attack have been intensified and necessary efforts are being made to determine the exposure levels in Syria, the official said.

Turkey stated that the UN investigation team currently in Syria should swiftly probe into claims that the government used chemical gas in a recent attack that activists claimed has killed more than 1,000 and injured many more in Damascus. Endi

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