Russia calls for international inspection in Aleppo over 'evidence' Syrian rebels used chemical weapons
- 7 years ago
Russia has called for international inspectors to send an urgent mission to Aleppo after saying it has evidence that opposition rebels had used chemical weapons against troops and civilians.
The claims have been denied by an opposition group.
Meanwhile reports say an international watchdog has voted behind closed doors to condemn the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and the self-styled Islamic State.
The Defence Ministry in Moscow said Russian personnel had found unexploded artillery shells with toxic chemicals, launched by terrorists, in southwestern Aleppo.
According to the Russian agency Interfax, the zone was recently seized by rebels from government forces.
Samples had also been taken from areas where they landed, including fragments of shells that exploded.
The shells have been tested in a mobile laboratory.
“Express analysis of the samples has shown that the weapons contained chlorine and white phosphorus,” said one unnamed Russian expert.
Reports say the samples are to be further analysed in Russia at a scientific facility licensed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The opposition Syrian National Coalition, based in Istanbul, issued a statement denying the Russian allegations, saying that chemical weapons had only been used by the Assad regime and its allies.
#SYRIA Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides (November 10) https://t.co/OJjx3hqoce pic.twitter.com/cEjImO3TJh— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 10, 2016
The executive body of the global chemical weapons watchdog voted on Friday to condemn the use of banned toxic agents by the Syrian government and ISIL militants, according to reports.
Reuters quoted a source as saying that roughly two-thirds of the 41 members on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) endorsed the text.
The vote is described as unusual as the executive council generally operates through consensus. But the text was reportedly supported by 28 members, including Germany, France, the United States and Britain.
The British Foreign Office released a statement in which Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The Syrian government’s military media released a video on Friday, which it said shows rebels firing upon each other before realising that they were on the same side.
According to AP, the video could not be independently verified.
According to the Syrian authorities it came from the helmet camera of a militant fighting with Fatah al-Sham – a group linked to al-Qaeda formerly known as the Nusra Front.
The fighter wearing the camera then falls to the ground after apparently being wounded – he is said to have died.
The claims have been denied by an opposition group.
Meanwhile reports say an international watchdog has voted behind closed doors to condemn the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and the self-styled Islamic State.
The Defence Ministry in Moscow said Russian personnel had found unexploded artillery shells with toxic chemicals, launched by terrorists, in southwestern Aleppo.
According to the Russian agency Interfax, the zone was recently seized by rebels from government forces.
Samples had also been taken from areas where they landed, including fragments of shells that exploded.
The shells have been tested in a mobile laboratory.
“Express analysis of the samples has shown that the weapons contained chlorine and white phosphorus,” said one unnamed Russian expert.
Reports say the samples are to be further analysed in Russia at a scientific facility licensed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The opposition Syrian National Coalition, based in Istanbul, issued a statement denying the Russian allegations, saying that chemical weapons had only been used by the Assad regime and its allies.
#SYRIA Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides (November 10) https://t.co/OJjx3hqoce pic.twitter.com/cEjImO3TJh— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) November 10, 2016
The executive body of the global chemical weapons watchdog voted on Friday to condemn the use of banned toxic agents by the Syrian government and ISIL militants, according to reports.
Reuters quoted a source as saying that roughly two-thirds of the 41 members on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) endorsed the text.
The vote is described as unusual as the executive council generally operates through consensus. But the text was reportedly supported by 28 members, including Germany, France, the United States and Britain.
The British Foreign Office released a statement in which Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The Syrian government’s military media released a video on Friday, which it said shows rebels firing upon each other before realising that they were on the same side.
According to AP, the video could not be independently verified.
According to the Syrian authorities it came from the helmet camera of a militant fighting with Fatah al-Sham – a group linked to al-Qaeda formerly known as the Nusra Front.
The fighter wearing the camera then falls to the ground after apparently being wounded – he is said to have died.