At issue is the sale by Hungary's Ministry of Environment and Water of 800, 000 certified emission-reduction credits (CERs).

ECONOMIST: Carbon markets

The problem with the sale was that Hungarian firms had already used the CERs to offset their own emissions.

ECONOMIST: Carbon markets

Regarding the chain of command, the French intelligence assessment said the section of the Syrian military responsible for filling munitions with chemical agents and for security at storage sites - "Branch 450" of the CERS - was staffed only by members of the president's minority Alawite sect and was "distinguished by a high level of loyalty to the regime".

BBC: Syria's chemical weapons stockpile