Belgian doctor: Israel using chemical weapons

20 July 2006

BRUSSELS — The Israeli military is using chemical weapons during its bombing of Lebanon, a Belgian-Lebanese professor claimed during a press conference in Brussels on Thursday.

The press conference was organised by the secretary of the Tripoli archbishop, Monsignor Jean Abboud. The Belgian professor of Lebanese origin, Bachir Cham, is the head of a hospital in Lebanon.

“The bodies don’t look like they normally do. After an explosion there were no traces of blood loss or subcutaneous haemorrhages [bruises],” Cham said via mobile phone direct from Beirut.

“The hair and sometimes the beard and the moustache remained intact. I found no traces of the pressure wave by the explosion. The colour of the skin was black like a shoe, but the skin was not carbonised or burnt.”

Eight mummy-like bodies were taken to the hospital on Monday and photos taken of the corpses. Two children’s bodies showed no indication of wounds resulting from an explosion.

“I have the impression that a poisonous product penetrated the body via the skin. Death follows with almost 100 percent certainty,” the professor said.

A heart specialist, Mohammad Farran, said letters had been sent to the UN and the EU drawing their attention to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Israel in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Arab, Lebanese and Belgian peace activists protested for fourth consecutive day in front of the EU headquarters in Brussels against the Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Placards carried by the protestors read: “Israel today is committing a deliberate crime against Lebanon” and “Stop Israeli terrorism”.

Subject: Belgian news