Kerry's 'investigation' remark attempt to hide ceasefire failure: Russia

US is trying to distract attention from its own failure to implement the ceasefire deal by calling for an investigation into Russias actions in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"The US side just could not fulfill the ceasefire agreement. They themselves told us that they do not have the means to put pressure on the opposition," Zakharova said, as quoted by TASS.

She also warned Washington that there were legal consequences for such rhetoric.

"Kerry's statement - this is propaganda. There are some very serious legal consequences behind this terminology, and I think that Kerry used all of these terms to inflame the situation," Zakharova said.

She said in an interview to Dozhd TV channel: "If it comes to war crimes, US representatives should start with Iraq. And then move to Libya, and of course to Yemen - find out what's there. I want to say that juggling these words is very dangerous, because there are indeed war crimes on the part of the American representatives."

Earlier on Friday, US Secretary John Kerry said that the Russian and Syrian governments' actions in Syria "beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes." He alleged Moscow and Damascus have been "hitting hospitals, medical facilities," in the war-ravaged country.

Russia has come under criticism from Washington over airstrikes hitting East Aleppo. Moscow and Damascus said that the joint mission is targeting terrorists in the city who have repeatedly jeopardized the cessation of hostilities agreed between Russia and the US.

Earlier in October, Washington suspended bilateral contacts with Moscow on Syria over the bombardment. Moscow in return noted that the US has failed to deliver on its promise to separate "moderate opposition" from the terrorists, which in turn jeopardized the truce deal.

--IANS

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