LONDON — Britain accused Russia of committing “war crimes” in Syria as world powers attacked Moscow Sunday night in one of the most bitter meetings of the UN Security Council in recent memory. As Russian jets took part in what rebels called the “scorched earth bombing” of Aleppo, Western powers charged Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, with deliberately undermining peace talks and flouting its historic responsibilities to the United Nations. “In short, it is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes.”Rycroft also hinted that Western powers must now consider coercive measures to force Russia to back away. The West could now consider economic sanctions or a diplomatic move against Russia to try to force it to change course. Russia denied the Western charges and accused Western-backed rebel groups of causing the breakdown of the ceasefire.

Source: National Post September 26, 2016 12:00 UTC