American Ambassador to Syria Says No Evidence to Support Chemical Weapons Claims

US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford said on Wednesday that there is no evidence to support the allegations that chemical weapons were used near Aleppo on Tuesday. Following fierce fighting that left at least 25 dead, state-run television charged that rebel forces had used non-conventional weapons while opposition groups charged that chemical weapons were used by the regime. The reports figured prominently in questions asked of President Obama on Wednesday because in past statements he set down the use of chemical weapons as a “game changer.” Neither President Obama nor Ambassador Ford was willing to spell out what the use of chemical weapons would trigger in response.  Four Syrians wounded by regime gunfire were treated by Israeli army doctors along the border between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights on Wednesday. Two of the wounded were in critical condition and were transferred to an Israeli hospital.