WEAPONS inspectors have confirmed the authenticity of a leaked document by a group of dissenting scientists which casts doubt on claims that Syria’s government used chemical weapons on it own people in April 2018.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been fielding calls from the press about a report contradicting the official line on the attack in Douma, which led to deadly air strikes by British, French and US forces.

Questions have been raised about the independence of the OPCW, which is accused of deliberately “covering up” evidence under political pressure.