"Shots were fired yesterday at a UN security team doing a reconnaissance in Douma," a UN official told AFP. "They were not injured and returned to Damascus."
The experts from the OPCW chemical watchdog were awaiting the green light from the security team before beginning their on-site investigation in Douma of the alleged attack.
The suspected April 7 gas attack on Douma, near Damascus, reportedly left more than 40 people dead and was blamed by Western powers on Syrian
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
's forces.
British Ambassador Peter Wilson told news hounds in The Hague that the security team on Tuesday traveled to two sites in Douma, escorted by Russian security police.
The officials were greeted by a "large crowd" of protesters at one site, forcing them to withdraw while at the second site "they were subject to small-arms fire and an kaboom," Wilson said, citing information from the OPCW director general.
Ahmet Uzumcu, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, told ambassadors in The Hague that it was unclear when the fact-finding mission will be able to deploy to Douma, Wilson added.
The UN official, who declined to be named, said the security team would remain in Damascus with the OPCW experts for the time being.