PARIS: Two dozen countries agreed on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to push for sanctions against perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying Russia “ultimately bears responsibility” for such strikes. There have been at least 130 separate chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2012, according to French estimates, with the Islamic State group also accused of using mustard gas in Syria and Iraq. ‘Bare minimum’Russia twice used its UN veto in November to block an extension of an international expert inquiry into chemical attacks in Syria, to the consternation of Western powers. Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia on Tuesday rejected Tillerson’s accusations and instead called for a “truly impartial” international investigation of the chemical attacks. The talks have so far failed to make progress in ending a war that has left more than 340,000 people dead.

Source: Manila Times January 24, 2018 13:52 UTC