Britain urges Russia and China to back UN action in Syria

Britain is urging Russia and China not to block action against those responsible for a suspected chemical attack in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, which it is calling “a war crime.”

Britain and France have called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on Syria’s chemical weapons on Wednesday. Diplomats said that meeting could be moved up to later Tuesday.

Britain’s UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft says the attack “has all the hallmarks of a regime attack” because the Syrian government is the only party to the conflict equipped to deliver deadly chemicals.

Rycroft calls the attack “clearly a war crime” and indirectly criticizes Russia and China for protecting Syria by vetoing previous council resolutions.

The ambassador says he hoped for a different approach from “the Security Council members who have previously used their vetoes to defend the indefensible.”

Rycroft adds that an emergency council meeting would “shine a spotlight on the heinous use of chemical weapons yet again” in Syria, rally support for action in the council, and put pressure on Russia and China “to hold to account those who used chemical weapons.”

— AP