UN chief: Syria bars entry of chem. weapons team

UNITED NATIONS – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says that Syria has still not allowed a team of experts into to the country to investigate an alleged chemical weapons attack by rebels.

He confirmed the continuing impasse at a news conference Wednesday.

Syria's government wants the investigation limited to a single incident in March on the village of Khan al-Assal outside of Aleppo. The rebels blame regime forces for the attack.

Britain and France want the U.N. to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in Khan al-Assal and another village, Ataybah, on March 19, as well as the central city of Homs on Dec. 23.

The inspection team in in Cyprus awaiting permission to enter Syria.