Report: 3,600 Syrians Treated for 'Neurotoxin' Exposure The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders says three Syrian hospitals have received about 3,600 patients displaying symptoms of exposure to neurotoxic agents. The news comes just days after allegations that more than 1,000 people were killed in a chemical weapons attack allegedly carried out by the Syrian government. Doctors Without Borders said it has learned that large numbers of patients arrived in the three Damascus hospitals with symptoms including convulsions, excess saliva and blurred vision, and that nearly 10 percent of those patients have died. Some of the medical and first-aid workers treatuing the people brought in for treatment also found themselves contaminated. Doctors Without Borders the situation overall strongly indicates the local population suffered "mass exposure to a neurotoxic agent," and it added: "This would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, which absolutely prohibits the use of chemicdal and biological weapons." Syria has denied all allegations that government forces used chemical weapons. State-controlled media have claimed rebel forces carried out nerve-gas attacks this week, and the state news agency SANA reported that soldiers found evidence of this while searching tunnels in the capital city used by "armed terrorists." In Washington, a White House official said the U.S. has a "range of options" if it decides to act against Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons. President Barack Obama met with his top national security advisers Saturday to discuss the Syrian situation. Mr. Obama has previously expressed reluctance to intervene in Syria. However, U.S. defense officials have recently said Washington is strengthening naval forces in the region.

• published: 24 Aug 2013
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