A suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta, Syria has killed dozens of people, a medical relief organisation and a rescue service said. The US State Department said reports of mass casualties from an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma were “horrifying” and would, if confirmed, “demand an immediate response by the international community”. SAMS operates 139 medical facilities in Syria where it supports 1,880 medical personnel, according to its website. Civil defence volunteers reported more than 42 cases of people dead at their homes showing the same symptoms, it said. “The United States calls on Russia to end this unmitigated support immediately and work with the international community to prevent further, barbaric chemical weapons attacks.”The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons during the conflict.

Source: The Irish Times April 08, 2018 05:26 UTC