BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says in a statement that its inspectors in Syria have checked 21 out of 23 sites declared by Damascus to be part of its poison gas and nerve agent program. The global chemical weapons watchdog says its inspectors have not been able to reach the two sites because of security concerns. Officials added that cease-fires may be needed to reach some sites.

Meanwhile United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi has arrived in the country, his first trip in almost a year. Brahimi has been trying to garner support for peace talks planned in Geneva next month, but at least 19 rebel groups are refusing to take part in Geneva II. Brahimi visited several countries in the region including Iran before arriving in Syria.

While in Iran, he said that Tehran’s participation at a Syria peace conference was "necessary." The Arab League’s chief Nabil Elaraby recently said the Geneva conference would be held on Nov. 23. Brahimi, however, has stressed that no date has been set but that the United Nations hopes to organize the gathering in late November.

(Source: CNTV.cn)