China calls for restraint on Syria

The nation has urged all sides concerned to keep calm and restrain in the ongoing crisis

Cautioning against any hasty action against Syria by the US and allies over the alleged use of chemical weapons, China has called for restraint saying that the world community should wait for the results of the UN inspection team.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday urged all sides concerned to keep calm and restrain in the ongoing crisis in Syria.

"China keeps a close watch on the latest situation in Syria," Wang said, adding that the Chinese side is firmly opposed to any use of chemical weapons in Syria and supports the UN's independent, objective, impartial and professional investigation there.

Wang said nobody should interfere with or prejudge the investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, state run Xinhua news agency reported.

The US and its allies are considering launching strikes on Syria following the alleged chemical attacks last week in eastern Ghouta in the countryside of Damascus, which claimed hundreds of lives.

The Syrian government and opposition groups have traded accusations about the use of chemical weapons.

Syria has allowed UN inspectors to probe the use of chemical weapons in eastern Ghouta.

"A political solution is always the only realistic means to resolve the Syria issue," said the Chinese foreign minister, adding that military interference from the outside will violate the UN Charter and exacerbate the turmoil in the Middle East.