AFP

Russia possesses enough evidence that the Syrian opposition used reports about chemical attacks as provocation, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. He added that Russia will pass the evidence, which is thought to implicate the Syrian rebels in the August 21 chemical attack, to the UN Security Council.

“We’ve got enough evidence that reports about use of chemical weapons reflect the fact that opposition regularly stages provocations in order to trigger intervention,” Lavrov said and added that the UN Security Council would examine those evidence along with a report submitted by UN inspectors who had investigated chemical weapons attack in Syria. “Who has done this is going to be established,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is in Syria, said the proof that the opposition used chemical weapons near Damascus, the Syrian capital, on August 21 that killed millions has been given to the UN experts who worked in the country.

The UN inspectors report found that the nerve gas sarin was used during the attack but did not blame any side for launching it. The US, UK and France blame the Syrian regime and want a UN resolution that authorises the use of force against the regime if its chemical weapon stocks are not handed over for destruction but Russia opposes any resolution threatening the punitive military action. neurope