(VOVworld) – Syria’s pro-government al Watan newspaper on Sunday reported that many government soldiers fighting with opposition forces in areas close to Damascus have shown signs of being exposed to toxic chemicals. The newspaper quoted a medical source saying that the soldiers were taken to Hamish military hospital and believed to have inhaled chemical gases after rebel forces fired a mortar into their location. Arguments about the use of chemical weapons arose when the US said the Syrian army might have used chemical weapons, particularly xarin to fight insurgent fighters. However, the Syrian government has denied this accusation and considered it an attempt by Washington and its western allies against the Syrian government.