Global

France says proof likely disappearing from Douma, inspectors must have full access

April 21, 2018 05:01·
An explosion on the outskirts of Damascus

An explosion on the outskirts of Damascus

Government forces and Russian troops have been deployed in Douma, which is now controlled by the Syrian government. Hours after the alleged chemical attack, the rebel faction that controlled the town, the Army of Islam, relented and was evacuated along with thousands of residents.

Syrian and Russian security officials have attributed the delay to "security issues" and insisted that roads still had to be de-mined and cleared before the investigators could access Douma.

"It's not something we're going to tolerate and they've got to make a decision.

Unfettered access essential. Russia & Syria must cooperate".

Activists on the ground in Syria said the attack killed more than 40 people and injured hundreds more sheltering from bombing in basements beneath the city.

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is expected to announce a new round of economic sanctions against Russian Federation for its backing of Syrian President Bashar al Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.

The United States and its allies Britain and France used missiles on Saturday to strike targets in Syria that they said had been involved in producing chemical weapons, which President Bashar al-Assad's government denies having used.

Russian Federation has openly announced that its representatives have been to the site, and a CBS journalist has also accessed the site, reporting from the location in recent days. The Associated Press spoke to survivors and witnesses who described being hit by gas, fainting, and discovering their relatives had died, with foam bubbling around their mouths.

Mr Lavrov also questioned why the US, UK and France had carried out their retaliatory air strikes before OPCW inspectors were able to visit the site.

Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry, in a statement, accused the Syrian government and Russian Federation of deliberately barring the OPCW from entering Douma in the past few days so that the evidence of the suspected gas attack disappeared without a trace. He said the canister with chlorine was similar to one shown in images released by activists in the days after April 7.

Tuition will not increase at Cal Poly next year, CSU says
Those at the local CSU may still see an increase, however, as college administrators are considering raising student fees. Sean Murphy, university media relations coordinator, said students could vote online on April 25 and 26.

Universal Display Corp (OLED) Shareholder Dsam Partners Llp Increased Its Stake
Over the last three months, the shares of the company have changed -51.19% and performed -26.72% over the last six months. Glassman Wealth Services increased its stake in shares of Universal Display by 60.7% in the fourth quarter.

Knicks to meet with David Blatt, James Borrego about coaching vacancy
The expectation was that three of the four would interview this week, with Blatt's interview coming next week. Smith is a native of Queens, New York and interviewed for the Knicks General Manager job in 2008.

Syrian state TV and the White Helmets volunteer rescue group said separately on Tuesday that the OPCW team had arrived in the area, only to be contradicted by a US State Department spokeswoman.

"For a new diplomatic initiative to work, the balance on the ground must be changed", said Nabeel Khoury, a former United States diplomat who is now a fellow at the Atlantic Council think-tank.

"Do we sit back, do we defend (human) rights by saying, 'Rights are for us, principles are for us, and realities are for others?' No, no!" the French leader said.

After Saturday's strikes, which destroyed mostly empty buildings, the trio of Western powers trying to reassert influence on the 7-year-old war have appeared to favour diplomatic action.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on April 15 that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would announce the new sanctions on April 16.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the USA -aligned kingdom could deploy forces from a bloc of mostly Sunni Muslim nations that was established to fight terrorism. "Some well-informed sources say Putin is furious and plans to put more hardliners in important positions during an upcoming reshuffle in his administration and government".

The kingdom has supported Sunni rebel groups fighting Assad's forces, which are backed by Shiite-majority Iran. The U.S. says it suspects that sarin gas also was used.

On Tuesday, Syrian state media said air defence had shot down missiles over the central province of Homs, with the strikes reportedly targeting regime air bases.

Meanwhile, London has already accused Russian Federation and Syria in not allowing the experts leave. Israel did not confirm or deny mounting the raid.

Recommended News

Join The Conversation

We are pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news.
Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper.
Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.