Syrian chemical attackers must face justice, says Italy

Brussels, April 5 (IANS/AKI) Italy wants the perpetrators of a deadly chemical attack on civilians in northern Syria to be "brought to justice", Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said in Brussels on the sidelines of a conference on the war-wracked Middle Eastern country's future.

"Italy took a very firm line on the necessity of bringing to justice those who are responsible for what are nothing less than war crimes.

"We need to find the way to set up an independent authority that is capable of punishing the perpetrators," he said.

Britain and France requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday amid mounting international outrage over the attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun that allegedly killed 72 people including 20 children.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a rebel commander and a weapons expert all said the evidence to date pointed to an attack by Syrian government forces - claims denied by Damascus and by Moscow.

--IANS/AKI

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