Erstellt am: 4. 12. 2012 - 15:04 Uhr

Syria's WMDs

Reality Check: Chemical weapons in Syria, Ganztagsschule, Slovenia protests, Egypt constitution, Arab philanthropy

Remember all the fuss about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, that turned out not to exist? Now the topic of WMDs is hitting the headlines again, but this time in connection with Syria.

As the Assad regime comes under ever more pressure from opposition forces, fears are growing that the government might deploy its known stockpiles of chemical weapons against civilians and insurgents.

According to international security expert, Paul Rogers, there are two types of chemical weapon the Syrians are known to hold. Both are old, but potentially devastating. One is mustard gas - widely used in WW1, and notorious for its blistering effect on skin and lungs. The other is sarin, an early nerve agent, which is perhaps best known today as being the deadly agent released in the Tokyo Subway attacks in 1995.

It's hard to know which is more disturbing. The idea of such substances in the hands of the regime with the chance of them being used on its own people, or the thought of what might happen to these weapons stockpiles if and when the regime falls.

Given the fragmented nature of the Syrian opposition, there is a high risk of such agents falling into the hands of radicals and terrorists - meaning they could potentially pose a threat to everyone, all over the world. It was only a very small amount of sarin on the Tokyo subway that killed 12 and injured over 5,000 people - so what large amounts could do hardly bears thinking about.

In today's Reality Check, Paul Rogers gives his analysis of Syria's chemical weapons capacity, and the development of the crisis.

All day school

The cabinet is expected to reach agreement today on plans to extend all-day schooling. ORF education expert, Martin Haidinger, explains the details of the agreement and why it is still going to be a controversial issue.

Anti-austerity protests in Slovenia

Protests in Maribor turned violent last night following days of protests across the country. The protests are partly about governement austerity measures, but also about public anger at corruption in the political system. Lidija Petkovic reports from Slovenia on the protests and the grievances of the Slovenian people.

Egypt's constitution

Bethany Bell explains why Egypt's new proposed constitution is so controversial.

Philanthropy and the Arab Spring

Barbara Ibrahim, founding director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement in Cairo, talks to Riem Higazi about how young people in the Arab world are changing their attitudes to social engagement.

She says the emphasis is changing from established wealthy donors to young people keen to see how they can change things by working together.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.