US, UK push for reactions after Syria chemical attack

British Prime Minister, Theresa May and her US counterpart Donald Trump are both of the opinion that the World must react over the use of suspected chemical weapons in Syria’s Douma.

Both leaders also agree that efforts should be put in place to ensure that those behind the suspected chemical attack in Syria are held to account, even as Washington considers a multinational military response to the action.

May spoke with Trump by telephone on Tuesday afternoon, agreeing that the reported attack was “utterly reprehensible” and that the international community must respond to uphold the worldwide prohibition on chemical weapon use.

“They agreed they would continue working closely together and with international partners to ensure that those responsible were held to account,” a statement from May’s office said.

May had earlier agreed the same thing in a call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

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A White House statement said Trump and May “agreed not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue”.

Only yesterday, the United States and its perennial rivals Russia were both engaged in a war of words over the 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 meeting that Washington was ready to “respond” to the attack regardless of if the Security Council acted or not.

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.

 

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