Syria agrees to halt fire for chemical attack probe, claims Russia
Suspected chemical attack left 87 dead including many children in Idlib province on April 4
PHOTO: AFP
MOSCOW:
Syria's military is ready to halt fire around the rebel-held town hit by a suspected chemical attack if experts are sent in to conduct a probe, Russia's defence ministry said on Monday.
"The command of the Syrian armed forces has expressed readiness to cease hostilities in Khan Sheikhun if a special mission of experts is sent there to investigate the events of April 4," the defence ministry said in a statement.
Moscow added that Damascus was "ready to declare a complete moratorium on the activities of its troops, aviation and artillery in the area" if investigators were sent in and also that they would be granted access to the Shayrat airbase allegedly used to launch the attack.
The Damascus regime itself however has not made any official announcement on the matter.
US warns of 'own action' after Syria chemical massacre
A suspected chemical attack left 87 dead, including many children, in rebel-held territory in Idlib province on April 4, with the West accusing Moscow's ally Syrian President Bashar al Assad of being responsible.
The Kremlin has consistently sought to deflect blame from Damascus over the incident, pointing the finger of blame at rebels and fiercely decrying a punitive missile strike by the US against the Shayrat airbase.
Syria's Assad says chemical attack '100 per cent fabrication'
Russia has also attempted to cast doubt on a probe being carried out by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog, criticising the organisation for purported bias and not sending experts to the scene of the alleged attack in war-torn Syria.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) last week rejected a move from Assad backers Russia and Iran to launch a new investigation into the incident.
Moscow's attempts to start a new probe came as OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu said that "incontrovertible" test results showed sarin gas or a similar substance was used.
Syria's military is ready to halt fire around the rebel-held town hit by a suspected chemical attack if experts are sent in to conduct a probe, Russia's defence ministry said on Monday.
"The command of the Syrian armed forces has expressed readiness to cease hostilities in Khan Sheikhun if a special mission of experts is sent there to investigate the events of April 4," the defence ministry said in a statement.
Moscow added that Damascus was "ready to declare a complete moratorium on the activities of its troops, aviation and artillery in the area" if investigators were sent in and also that they would be granted access to the Shayrat airbase allegedly used to launch the attack.
The Damascus regime itself however has not made any official announcement on the matter.
US warns of 'own action' after Syria chemical massacre
A suspected chemical attack left 87 dead, including many children, in rebel-held territory in Idlib province on April 4, with the West accusing Moscow's ally Syrian President Bashar al Assad of being responsible.
The Kremlin has consistently sought to deflect blame from Damascus over the incident, pointing the finger of blame at rebels and fiercely decrying a punitive missile strike by the US against the Shayrat airbase.
Syria's Assad says chemical attack '100 per cent fabrication'
Russia has also attempted to cast doubt on a probe being carried out by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog, criticising the organisation for purported bias and not sending experts to the scene of the alleged attack in war-torn Syria.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) last week rejected a move from Assad backers Russia and Iran to launch a new investigation into the incident.
Moscow's attempts to start a new probe came as OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu said that "incontrovertible" test results showed sarin gas or a similar substance was used.