Proof of Syrian chemical use given to UN: Russia

Moscow, Sep 11 (IANS/ITAR -TASS) Russia has submitted proof of use of chemical weapons by militants in Syria to the UN Security Council, Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Duma or the lower house of the Russian parliament, said Wednesday.

"Chemical weapons must be outlawed. It is not only the government of Syria, but militants in Syria as well who have chemical weapons," he said at a meeting of the Duma.

According to Pushkov, the Syrian militants "used the chemical weapons repeatedly".

"Russia has just turned over the evidence at its disposal to the UN Security Council," he said.

According to a Xinhua report, Pushkov also noted in the Duma meeting that the militants used chemical weapons near Aleppo in March this year.

He said this has been acknowledged by Carla Del Ponte, a member of the UN's special independent commission investigating human rights violations in Syria.

--IANS/ITAR-TASS

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