RTTue, 18 Apr 2017 16:43 UTC
© Russian RealityForeign Secretary Boris Johnson on testing for sarin substance at Khan Sheikhoun.
The Russian embassy in London is calling on Britain to explain its testing of an alleged chemical weapons attack site in Syria, adding it hopes the UK's "takeover exercise" does not destroy the possibility of an impartial investigation.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs
British scientists found sarin or a sarin-like substance in samples obtained at the scene of a chemical incident in Syria's Idlib province."We know from shell fragments in the crater that not only had sarin been used, but sarin carrying the specific chemical signature of sarin used by the Assad regime," Johnson said.
"And given that samples from the victims showed conclusively that they had been exposed to sarin gas, there is
only one conclusion: that the Assad regime almost certainly gassed its own people in breach of international law and the rules of war."Russia has consistently called on both the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN to undertake a separate investigation of the site.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Russian embassy in London
questioned why British scientists were attempting to update the OPCW, an international body. It says it would like Britain to
clarify elements of its investigation, including the procedure and site of the sampling, what specific samples were taken and whether OPCW standards of safety and integrity in collecting evidence were upheld.
"Do we understand correctly that the British side gained access to Khan Sheikhoun, and if so, can it assist in providing full and safe access directly to the site of the chemical incident in Khan Sheikhoun for the OPCW inspectors in order to conduct a comprehensive and objective investigation?" the embassy said. "If the samples were not taken at the scene of the events ... then what, in London's opinion, is the value of such an analysis?"
The embassy adds that
Russia continues to insist on an immediate on-site investigation under the auspices of the OPCW and UN, despite Johnson claiming otherwise.
"We hope this entire takeover exercise is not meant to destroy the very possibility of an impartial international investigation into this incident," the statement says.
Damascus has refuted allegations of any involvement in a chemical weapons incident in Idlib.
Comment: Assad is a pawn in the Middle East power play by Israel. Look at how quickly the US was brought back in line when it suggested Assad could stay and his future be determined by the Syrian people. We might find that the 'sarin attack' has deep roots elsewhere.
Comment: Assad is a pawn in the Middle East power play by Israel. Look at how quickly the US was brought back in line when it suggested Assad could stay and his future be determined by the Syrian people. We might find that the 'sarin attack' has deep roots elsewhere.