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Inspectors reportedly reach alleged Syria chemical attack site

April 20, 2018 02:49·
Bashar al Assad arrives at work on a morning of steadfastness. Syrian Presidency

Bashar al Assad arrives at work on a morning of steadfastness. Syrian Presidency

The exchange came Tuesday at the sixth meeting of the U.N. Security Council in nine days on Syria.

Lavrov charged that it was the United States, France and Britain who were "standing in the way" of the investigation by ordering air strikes "in the blink of an eye" before the OPCW team had a chance to do their work.

There was a briefing by United Nations humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock, who said people in both places need humanitarian help.

Both Russia and its ally, President Bashar al-Assad's government, have denied using chemical weapons in their war against armed opposition groups in Syria.

Syrian air defense forces responded to the coalition strike over the weekend by firing wildly into the night after the attack had already concluded.

"Before airstrikes, we noted the readiness of the Syrian government to participate in the Geneva negotiations", Nebenzia said.

He said it is hard to imagine that after the attacks "Syrian authorities would be interested to talk".

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He was referring to the rebel fighters who controlled Douma until the Syrian army took it back about a week ago. On Tuesday, there had been conflicting reports about whether the OPCW experts had arrived in Douma.

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Saturday's air strikes were the first coordinated Western strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in a seven-year war that has killed more than 500,000 people and drawn in global powers and neighbouring states.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre and British Ambassador Karen Pierce said the Security Council should use what happened as an opportunity to restart United Nations -facilitated negotiations.

"It is us and the Syrians who are answering to the entire worldwide community, the director general of the OPCW, and finally to the families, relatives and friends of the courageous OPCW inspectors who, despite all difficulties, are determined to fulfill their duty".

"More than ever, we need to focus on ensuring that this council's demands for a cease-fire and for unhindered humanitarian access actually get implemented on the ground", she said.

The issue had been dealt with by Russian experts, said the commander, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

De Bretton-Gordon said both chlorine and sarin gas - the weapons the US says were used in Douma on April 7 - dissipate quickly in open air, so inspectors will likely focus on obtaining biological medical samples from the victims to try and prove or disprove the presence of those toxins.

The pro-government commander said the army had prepared for military action in the Eastern Qalamoun, but that Russian Federation was working on securing the rebels' withdrawal without a battle.

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