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| Syria crisis: France to press Russia over UN resolution | Syria crisis: France to press Russia over UN resolution |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is visiting Moscow to try to persuade Russia to support a UN Security Council resolution on Syria. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is visiting Moscow to try to persuade Russia to support a UN Security Council resolution on Syria. |
| On Monday, UN weapons inspectors said the nerve gas sarin was used against civilians on a relatively large scale in a suburb of Damascus last month. | On Monday, UN weapons inspectors said the nerve gas sarin was used against civilians on a relatively large scale in a suburb of Damascus last month. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described it as a war crime. | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described it as a war crime. |
| France is now trying to win support for a UN resolution with the threat of serious consequences. | France is now trying to win support for a UN resolution with the threat of serious consequences. |
| But Russia, which is Syria's strongest ally, says the government of President Bashar al-Assad should first be given the chance to give up its chemical weapons. | But Russia, which is Syria's strongest ally, says the government of President Bashar al-Assad should first be given the chance to give up its chemical weapons. |
| Mr Fabius will discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a possible UN Security Council resolution on the agreement to place Syria's chemical arsenal under international control. | Mr Fabius will discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a possible UN Security Council resolution on the agreement to place Syria's chemical arsenal under international control. |
| Under the deal brokered at the weekend by Russia and the US, Syria will disclose its chemical weapons within a week and eliminate them by mid-2014. | Under the deal brokered at the weekend by Russia and the US, Syria will disclose its chemical weapons within a week and eliminate them by mid-2014. |
| The US, UK and France say the UN inspectors' report vindicates their stance that Syria is to blame for the 21 August attack. | The US, UK and France say the UN inspectors' report vindicates their stance that Syria is to blame for the 21 August attack. |
| The US and UK ambassadors to the UN said technical details showed only the regime could have been responsible for the attack. | The US and UK ambassadors to the UN said technical details showed only the regime could have been responsible for the attack. |
| On Tuesday, the Syrian foreign ministry accused the US, UK and France of trying to "impose their will on the Syrian people" after they said they would press for the UN resolution. | |
| Mr Assad has denied responsibility for the 21 August attack and blamed rebels. | Mr Assad has denied responsibility for the 21 August attack and blamed rebels. |
| On Monday, Russia said claims that the rebels were responsible could not be shrugged off, and it questioned why no rebel fighters were among the casualties if it were a government attack. | On Monday, Russia said claims that the rebels were responsible could not be shrugged off, and it questioned why no rebel fighters were among the casualties if it were a government attack. |
| US allegations that the government was responsible led to threats of military action and then a US-Russia deal for Syria to make safe its chemical arms. | US allegations that the government was responsible led to threats of military action and then a US-Russia deal for Syria to make safe its chemical arms. |
| Positive for sarin | Positive for sarin |
| The UN report did not attribute blame for the attack, as that was not part of its remit. | The UN report did not attribute blame for the attack, as that was not part of its remit. |
| The UN investigators examined blood, hair, urine and rocket samples. Mr Ban said 85% of the blood samples had tested positive for sarin. | The UN investigators examined blood, hair, urine and rocket samples. Mr Ban said 85% of the blood samples had tested positive for sarin. |
| Mr Ban was asked at a news conference whether he knew who was behind the attack. | Mr Ban was asked at a news conference whether he knew who was behind the attack. |
| He replied that "we may all have our own thoughts", but it was for "others to decide" what steps should be taken to bring those responsible to justice. | He replied that "we may all have our own thoughts", but it was for "others to decide" what steps should be taken to bring those responsible to justice. |
| He said the mission was unable to verify the number of casualties, but referred to the "terrible loss of life on 21 August". | He said the mission was unable to verify the number of casualties, but referred to the "terrible loss of life on 21 August". |
| Mr Ban added this was the most significant confirmed use of chemical weapons against civilians since Saddam Hussein used them in Halabja in 1988. | Mr Ban added this was the most significant confirmed use of chemical weapons against civilians since Saddam Hussein used them in Halabja in 1988. |