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\f0\fs24 \cf0 \cb2 (Image source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/07/23/432909.htm"}}{\fldrslt
\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \ul SANA}})\
\'a0\ \pard\pardeftab720\sl320
\b \cf0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
\b0 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0 \
\b \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
\b0 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0 \ \'a0\
In what several news agencies are calling a \'93veiled threat,\'94 a Syrian official
made the country\'92s first-ever confirmation that the government does, in fact, have chemical
weapons.{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.cnbc.com/"}}{\fldrslt \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\ul CNBC explains}}.\ \pard\pardeftab720\sl320
\cf0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \uc0\u8232
\b \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \'93A foreign ministry spokesman is admitting
that the country does have chemical weapons, but says they will never be used against their
own people.\'94 \b0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\uc0\u8232 \u8232 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0 The comments follow threats by Israel to destroy
Syria\'92s chemical and biological weapons for fear of letting them fall into the hands
of Hezbollah. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://news.sky.com/"}}{\fldrslt \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\ul Sky News reports}} the spokesperson gave a clear warning.\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\uc0\u8232 \u8232 \b \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\'93They claim that they are very much secure, but warned they will only be used if it comes
down to a foreign power interference in Syria\'92s affairs.\'94
\b0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0
The foreign minister\'92s speech, reported by the {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/07/23/432909.htm"}}{\fldrslt
\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \ul state-run Syria-Arab News Agency}}, also
preemptively blamed the West for any chemical weapon attacks. He said opposition groups
might deploy such weapons and then blame the government.\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\uc0\u8232 \u8232 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/23/syria-says-will-use-chemical-weapons-if-attacked/"}}{\fldrslt
\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \ul A Fox News analyst}}\kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0
says the threat of chemical warfare in Syria is very real.\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\uc0\u8232 \u8232 \b \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\'93We know that Syria has one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world.
\'85 We also, according to U.S. intelligence \'97 the Iraqi chemical weapons were trucked
over the border into Syria before the Iraq war.\'94
\b0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0
Fighting continues in Syria\'92s two largest cities: Damascus and Aleppo. But members of
the Arab League offered the president a way out. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.euronews.com/2012/07/23/arab-league-calls-on-syria-president-to-quit/"}}{\fldrslt
\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \ul euronews has more}}.\kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\uc0\u8232 \u8232 \b \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10
\'93\'91Step down quickly and you and your family can leave Syria safely.\'92 That\'92s
the message to president Bashar al-Assad from Arab League foreign ministers.\'94
\b0 \kerning1\expnd2\expndtw10 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \kerning1\expnd0\expndtw0
The same foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the offer, saying only Syrians can decide
Assad\'92s fate.\ }