Russia fails to block chemical arms body's new powers

Russia failed on Tuesday in its bid to stall the global chemical warfare watchdog's controversial new power to apportion blame for attacks like those in Syria.

After a bitter war of words, states approved the 2019 budget for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which includes funding for the new role.

They also shot down a proposal by Russia and China to set up an "expert group" which the West said would have effectively blocked the new powers.

In June the OPCW approved a British-backed move to allow the body to attribute blame for chemical attacks. Previously it could only confirm whether or not toxic arms had been used.

"A clear majority against an attempt to wreck the historic June decision," British ambassador to the OPCW Peter Wilson said on Twitter.

"An overwhelming result, which clearly says #NoToChemicalWeapons."
Russia and the West traded bitter accusations of lying and hypocrisy on
US Ambassador Kenneth Ward however accused Russia of "pungent hypocrisy" and warned against allowing a "new era of chemical weapons use to take hold."