The Australian prime minister has given strong support for the military response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons and urged Russia to exercise its authority to ensure the weapons are destroyed. At a press conference on Sunday, Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian government was a strong supporter of the “targeted, proportionate and responsible action by the United States, France and the United Kingdom in targeting three chemical weapons sites in Syria yesterday”. “The use of chemical weapons is a crime,” Turnbull told reporters. The Australian prime minister criticised Russia for using its United Nations security council veto to block motions to investigate the chemical weapons crime and to ensure it cannot be repeated. But Australia is committed to working with its partners and allies to stop the criminal use of chemical weapons “whether it is in Syria or on a park bench in Salisbury in the United Kingdom”.

Source: The Guardian April 15, 2018 04:41 UTC