Belgium probing if chemical was illegally exported to Syria

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Belgian authorities are investigating whether  three companies might have been involved in the illegal export of  chemicals to Syria.

Court spokesman Roland Cassiers said the case against the companies  is to come to court on May 15 for opening proceedings and centres  on whether the products were exported between 2014 and 2016 despite  the sanctions against the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Knack magazine reported that special permission has been needed  since 2013 to export a number of chemicals to Syria because of the  ongoing civil war, but that three interlinked Belgian companies were  able to continue exports until 2016.

The allegation is that one of their products could have a dual use  in the production of sarin gas.

Daily Pioneer
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