Russia denies US accusations of toxic attack in Syria

Moscow deemed as unfounded slander the US accusations that Russia or the Syrian government was responsible for a toxic gas attack in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus earlier this week.

"Essentially, a massive propaganda attack was undertaken to blacken Russia on the world arena and undermine efforts for a peaceful settlement in Syria," Xinhua cited the Russia Foreign Ministry as saying.

On Tuesday, a number of high-ranking US officials accused Moscow and Damascus of organising the toxic chlorine gas attack on Monday.

The White Helmets civil defense rescue force reported that 13 civilians were injured in the incident.

The Russian ministry stressed that there had been no proof of the attack, other than the report by the "notorious White Helmets, which have long collaborated with terrorist groups and completely discredited themselves by provocations and the constant spread of outright lies."

The US accused Russia of unwillingness to investigate incidents with toxic substances in Syria, although the US itself obstructed an objective investigation, said the ministry.

The US and its allies have been constantly blocking the Russian proposal to adopt a United Nations Security Council resolution or a statement of its chairman condemning the acts of chemical terrorism in the Middle East, where militants not only use toxic chemicals, but also acquired capabilities to make warfare agents by themselves, said the ministry.

"We advise Washington to ponder, where its path of scrapping relations with Russia could lead and whether this meets the interests of the American people," the ministry was quoted as saying.

--IANS

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