SYRIA CHEMICAL ATTACK: US, Russia in war of words

The United States and its perennial rival Russia were both engaged in a war of words over a suspected chemical attack in the Syrian rebel-held town of Douma.

Both countries were engaged in a verbal spat amid calls for action at an urgent UN Security Council meeting which was staged at the request of US, Britain, France and six other countries.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, told the urgent meeting that Washington was ready to “respond” to the attack regardless of Security Council acted or not.

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“We have reached the moment when the world must see justice done,” Haley said, striking a sombre and threatening tone.

“History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria,” she added. “Either way, the United States will respond.”

Reacting to comments by the US, Vassily Nebenzia, Haley’s counterpart, had called the chemical attack allegations “fake news” and said Russia was ready to fly weapons’ inspectors to the site to see for themselves.

Warning that any military action against Syria’s government could have “grave repercussions”, the Russian ambassador also accused US, France and Britain of “hawkish rhetoric” and “boorishness against my country”, adding that their lack of a clear strategy for Syria was “appalling”.

The chemical attack on Douma which took place on Saturday killed dozens of people, including many children and women.

However, the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and its ally Russia have called the allegations “fabrications”.

 

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