US says Russia 'responsible' for spy attack in Britain

The United States said today that Russia was "responsible" for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in England, and urged the UN Security Council to hold Moscow accountable.

"The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom, using a military-grade nerve agent," US Ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency council meeting.

The March 4 attack in the English city of Salisbury left ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in critical condition.

US President Donald Trump had pressed Russia to provide answers but did not suggest that Moscow had a hand in the attempted murder.

As one of the council's five permanent members, Russia is entrusted by the United Nations with upholding international peace and security, Haley said.

"It must account for its actions."
"If we don't take immediate, concrete measures to address this now, Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons use."
Britain called the emergency meeting to rally support in its standoff with Russia over the attack that British Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Allen said was "state-sponsored."
"This was a reckless and indiscriminate act that put at risk the lives of civilians."