President Michel Suleiman on Thursday expressed "grave concern" over the use of chemical weapons in Syria and condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon at Israel as a "violation of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty." The president said that if confirmed the attacks would totally be in violation of “human values and principles.”

Suleiman voiced “grave concern over the use of such weapons by any party, especially in a country that neighbors Lebanon,” hoping the Security Council will reach “a tangible result in this issue.” The Syrian opposition said more than 1,300 people were killed in bomb attacks with a chemical agent carried out by regime forces in the Ghouta area on Wednesday, an accusation vehemently denied by Damascus.

Separately, Suleiman hailed “the efforts exerted by the army and security forces in busting the terrorist and subversive networks,” stressing “the importance of boosting measures and investigations to pursue the masterminds and culprits of these acts and arrest them in order to prevent strife and put an end to their criminal activities.” [Link]