U.N. Disarmament Envoy Arrives to Beirut from Syria, on Way to Istanbul

U.N. disarmament envoy Angela Kane arrived in Beirut from neighboring Syria on Friday and immediately left for Istanbul, a security source told Agence France Presse.

Kane was sent to Damascus on Saturday by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to press for an inquiry into alleged chemical weapons attacks near the Syrian capital on August 21.

"(Kane) arrived in Lebanon via the Masnaa border crossing with Syria at around midday and then she immediately headed to Beirut airport to take a flight to Istanbul," the source said.

Last Sunday she negotiated a deal with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem under which U.N. inspectors, already in Syria to probe three other suspect sites, were allowed to probe the latest alleged chemical strikes that struck Ghouta in the Damascus suburbs.

The U.N. team is due to report on its findings to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon after they leave Syria on Saturday.

Syrian state television confirmed that Kane had left the country.