UN chemical weapon probe must focus on Syria terrorists: Russia

Russia says a UN probe into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria should focus exclusively on their use by the foreign-backed militants.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks that investigators should also look at other alleged chemical attacks, saying there have been no other known chemical attacks in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry statement criticized Ban’s broader probe proposal as an attempt to turn the UN investigation “into an element of additional pressure” for government change in Syria.

On Wednesday, Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari demanded from “the United Nations to form a specialized and independent and neutral, technical mission to investigate the use by the terrorist groups operating in Syria of chemical weapons.”

At least 25 people were killed and 86 others injured after militants fired missiles containing poisonous gas into Aleppo’s Khan al-Assal village. Women and children were among the victims.

Syria has blamed countries supporting the militants for the attack, saying not only do such states militarize them, but also plan and take decisions on their behalf.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

Several international human rights organizations have accused foreign-sponsored militants of committing war crimes in Syria.