The Syrian government has rejected a request by United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon to allow a team of inspectors to investigate the use of chemical weapons in the country's civil war.
Syria's foreign ministry says the government is willing to allow the inspectors into the village of Khan al-Assal, near Aleppo, where the rebels were alleged to have used chemical weapons last month.
Mr. Ban said Monday that an investigating team is ready to deploy in the country within 24 hours, suggesting that it be allowed to investigate reports of chemical attacks throughout the country.
The Syrian foreign ministry rejected that proposal saying it would be a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Both the government and rebels opposed to President Assad have traded accusations about the use of chemical weapons.