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Syria crisis: Russia claims Douma chemical attack was staged – live Syria crisis: Russia claims Douma chemical attack was staged – live
(35 minutes later)
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus is at the sharp end of the British military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Rumour is rife on the island that the installation would be targeted if Russia were to retaliate in the event of US-led military action in Syria.
At last count, Britain’s main forward mounting base for overseas operations in the Middle East had eight typhoon and six tornado fighter bombers ready for action.
Here’s what we know so far:
Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, claimed Moscow had “irrefutable” evidence that the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria was staged with the help of a foreign secret service. He did not provide evidence for the claim. Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, said the UK-funded White Helmets were behind fake reports about the incident.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for more dialogue with Russia in in a phone call with his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin. “The president of the republic called for dialogue with Russia to be maintained and stepped up to bring peace and stability back to Syria,” a statement from Macron’s office said.
Russia tested the use of door handles as a way of delivering nerve agents and targeted the email accounts of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, according to previously classified intelligence over the Salisbury attack.
Ambassador Yakovenko has demanded proof that Yulia Skripal is alive and well. He announced that Russia is lodging an official challenge to the way the UK investigated the incident and claimed evidence was being destroyed. He denied Russia had produce or stored novichok or tracked the Skripals but said he not seen the UK’s latest dossier.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the government of “waiting for instructions” from Donald Trump adding that military intervention risks “escalating an already devastating conflict”. He also called for a UN-led investigation of the chemical weapons attack in Douma.
There are growing calls for the government to give MPs a vote before launching any military intervention in Syria. Labour is actively exploring ways to bring a debate on any military action to parliament, but will have difficulty forcing a Commons vote.
Donald Trump has been tweeting today but so far not about Syria. The target for his insults today is the former FBI director James Comey.
James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR. Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH. He is a weak and.....
....untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst “botch jobs” of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!
Ambassador Yakovenko says Russia was not tracking Sergei Skripal in the UK. “We want to know what happened in this country, because Russia was blamed. We want to know the truth,” he said.
If Yulia Skripal claims political asylum in the UK that’s a decision for her, he said. “We want to hear her story. We want to have a fully-fledged investigation. Theresa May has said Russia was behind this. We want to see the evidence,” Yakovenko said.
“We didn’t produce novichok. We never had it. We never stored it in the army,” Yakovenko added.
He added that Russia will send an official request today to the UK challenging its inspection into the Salisbury incident.
Yakovenko says he is not aware of any conversations between Putin and Trump since last week’s suspected chemical attack. But he confirms that Putin has not spoken to Theresa May about the incident.Yakovenko says he is not aware of any conversations between Putin and Trump since last week’s suspected chemical attack. But he confirms that Putin has not spoken to Theresa May about the incident.
Asked more about the claim the Douma attack was staged, Yakovenko denies he was implying British special forces were involved in such an operation.Asked more about the claim the Douma attack was staged, Yakovenko denies he was implying British special forces were involved in such an operation.
He says the White Helmets were responsible for the “fake” report.He says the White Helmets were responsible for the “fake” report.
On UK claims that Russia had been spying on the Skripals for five year, Yakovenko chuckles. “They always complain when something goes wrong,” he said.On UK claims that Russia had been spying on the Skripals for five year, Yakovenko chuckles. “They always complain when something goes wrong,” he said.
Yakovenko is also about the UK’s claim that Russia tested nerve agent on door handles before the Skripal attack. He said the UK has not shared those concerns with Russia. “I didn’t see this, because I was preparing for this press conference,” he said.Yakovenko is also about the UK’s claim that Russia tested nerve agent on door handles before the Skripal attack. He said the UK has not shared those concerns with Russia. “I didn’t see this, because I was preparing for this press conference,” he said.
On Salisbury Yakovenko disputes the UK claim that the OPCW backed the UK’s analysis of the poisoning. The OPCW never confirmed where the nerve agent involved was manufactured. “The report is saying nothing about that,” he said.On Salisbury Yakovenko disputes the UK claim that the OPCW backed the UK’s analysis of the poisoning. The OPCW never confirmed where the nerve agent involved was manufactured. “The report is saying nothing about that,” he said.
“All the statements made by Boris Johnson and other people are not correct,” he said. “The report never supported the British version,” he said.“All the statements made by Boris Johnson and other people are not correct,” he said. “The report never supported the British version,” he said.
Asked why Russia is backing a suspected war criminal in Syria, Yakovenko says Assad was democratically elected and the only legitimate leader in Syria.Asked why Russia is backing a suspected war criminal in Syria, Yakovenko says Assad was democratically elected and the only legitimate leader in Syria.
On Russia’s veto of a UN investigation into the Douma attack, he said the US were proposing an old way of investigating which would not have involved visiting the site of the suspected attack.On Russia’s veto of a UN investigation into the Douma attack, he said the US were proposing an old way of investigating which would not have involved visiting the site of the suspected attack.
The planned OPCW inspection is “exactly what we wanted”, Yakovenko said.The planned OPCW inspection is “exactly what we wanted”, Yakovenko said.
Yakovenko says Russia will publish its own report into the Salisbury nerve agent attack.Yakovenko says Russia will publish its own report into the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
He says Russia is currently studying the OPCW full unpublished report into the incident. He refuses to say whether the “quite thick” full OPCW report mentions the nerve agent novichok.He says Russia is currently studying the OPCW full unpublished report into the incident. He refuses to say whether the “quite thick” full OPCW report mentions the nerve agent novichok.
The British side are not transparent, Yakovenko claims and suggests the UK is flouting international law over the investigation into the poisoning.The British side are not transparent, Yakovenko claims and suggests the UK is flouting international law over the investigation into the poisoning.
Yakovenko demands “proof” that Yulia Skripal is safe. He questions why there have been no photographs of the Skripals or interviews with them since the incident. “What is happening in this country, if the press is supposed to be free?” he asks.Yakovenko demands “proof” that Yulia Skripal is safe. He questions why there have been no photographs of the Skripals or interviews with them since the incident. “What is happening in this country, if the press is supposed to be free?” he asks.
Yakovenko claims the UK-funded White Helmets are “famous for staging attacks” in Syria.Yakovenko claims the UK-funded White Helmets are “famous for staging attacks” in Syria.
"Russian services... visited the site in Douma and didn't find any traces of chemical substances there, or traces of chemical poisoning" - Russian ambassador to UK on suspected chemical attack in Syriahttps://t.co/uY4ua5mkro pic.twitter.com/0c8ZliRpdv"Russian services... visited the site in Douma and didn't find any traces of chemical substances there, or traces of chemical poisoning" - Russian ambassador to UK on suspected chemical attack in Syriahttps://t.co/uY4ua5mkro pic.twitter.com/0c8ZliRpdv
French President Emmanuel Macron has raised concerns about the deterioration of the situation in Syria in a phone call with his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin. He also called for more dialogue with Moscow, his office said.French President Emmanuel Macron has raised concerns about the deterioration of the situation in Syria in a phone call with his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin. He also called for more dialogue with Moscow, his office said.
Macron, who claims France has proof the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in an attack last week, also expressed regret at Russia’s use of its United Nations Security Council veto on the attack.Macron, who claims France has proof the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in an attack last week, also expressed regret at Russia’s use of its United Nations Security Council veto on the attack.
“The president of the republic called for dialogue with Russia to be maintained and stepped up to bring peace and stability back to Syria,” a statement from Macron’s office said.“The president of the republic called for dialogue with Russia to be maintained and stepped up to bring peace and stability back to Syria,” a statement from Macron’s office said.
Yakovenko pointed out, at his continuing press conference in London, that France has provided no evidence of proof that Syria was behind the Douma attack.Yakovenko pointed out, at his continuing press conference in London, that France has provided no evidence of proof that Syria was behind the Douma attack.
Yakovenko taunted western allies considering military action by playing clips of Tony Blair before and after Iraq war.Yakovenko taunted western allies considering military action by playing clips of Tony Blair before and after Iraq war.
In a statement, the embassy said: “The infamous aggression against Iraq in 2003 immediately comes to mind, when the then Prime Minister Tony Blair deliberately misinformed the Parliament and the public. It is well known how it ended – with Chilcot inquiry delivering a condemnatory verdict.”In a statement, the embassy said: “The infamous aggression against Iraq in 2003 immediately comes to mind, when the then Prime Minister Tony Blair deliberately misinformed the Parliament and the public. It is well known how it ended – with Chilcot inquiry delivering a condemnatory verdict.”
On Syria, Yakovenko says Russia has been warning for weeks of the possibility of a staged chemical attack by Syrian rebels. He alleges that the Western-backed White Helmets could have been behind staging the incident.On Syria, Yakovenko says Russia has been warning for weeks of the possibility of a staged chemical attack by Syrian rebels. He alleges that the Western-backed White Helmets could have been behind staging the incident.
He welcomes the fact-finding mission by the OPCW which is due to start tomorrow. He claims any delay could be used by the west to deliver military strikes to destroy evidence.He welcomes the fact-finding mission by the OPCW which is due to start tomorrow. He claims any delay could be used by the west to deliver military strikes to destroy evidence.
Yakovenko accuses the US and France of “mechanically” following America’s lead on Syria.Yakovenko accuses the US and France of “mechanically” following America’s lead on Syria.