Secretary of State John Kerry has ridiculed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for claims that his regime did not use chemical weapons last month.
Assad in an interview with Fox news had claimed that the rebels might have been behind 21st August attack, as he urged the United Nations to get tough when it convenes next week.
Kerry had a pithy response to Assad's claims and the Russian government that the opposition used sarin gas: 'Please'.
'Sarin was used and it killed people,' Kerry said, adding that the world can decide whether it was used by the regime, which has used chemical weapons before, the regime which had the rockets and the weapons.
Kerry made a surprise appearance at the daily State Department briefing on Thursday ahead of the U.N. meeting next week in New York.
U.S. diplomats will work on a U.N. resolution to enforce a new agreement that would have the Assad regime submit its chemical weapons to international control.
But Kerry was evidently frustrated by claims by the Syrian and Russian governments that Assad's regime was not behind the deadly attack on Aug. 21. which prompted the stand-off with the U.S.
In the interview, Assad admitted he has chemical weapons but denied that his government was behind the attack, continuing to push the theory that the opposition was behind the strike.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
