Syrian activists claim deadly ‘toxic gas’ attack

Syrian activists claim deadly ‘toxic gas’ attack

BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian anti-government activists accused the regime of carrying out a toxic gas attack that killed at least 100 people, including many children as they slept, during intense artillery and rocket barrages today on the eastern suburbs of Damascus that are part of a fierce government offensive in the area. The attack coincided with the visit by a 20-member U.N. chemical weapons team to Syria to investigate three sites where attacks allegedly occurred during the past year. Their presence raises questions about why the regime - which called the claims of the attack Wednesday “absolutely baseless” - would use chemical agents at this time.