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 defense ministry says.
“The command of the Syrian armed forces has expressed readiness to cease hostilities in Khan Sheikhoun if a special mission of experts is sent there to investigate the events of April 4,” the defense ministry says 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.
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 Assad of being responsible.
— AFP
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 24, 2017
