Turkey: Autopsy shows chemical weapons used in Syria attack
France says crimes must not go unpunished and that international justice will rule on Assad
BEIRUT/LONDON: Turkey said on Thursday that the autopsies of Syrian victims from Tuesday’s assault in Syria’s Idlib province show they were subjected to chemical weapons, amid growing international outrage over the assault that activists say killed 86 people.
State-run Anadolu and the private DHA news agencies quoted justice minister Bekir Bozdag saying that it was determined after the autopsy that a chemical weapon was used.
“This scientific investigation also confirms that (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons,” Bozdag said, without giving further details.
The Turkish health ministry also said that initial results of tests on victims point to possible exposure to sarin gas. Officials said close to 60 victims were brought to Turkey for treatment and three of them died.
Damascus maintains it didn’t use chemical weapons, instead blaming rebels for stockpiling the deadly substance. “I stress, once again, that the Syrian Arab Army did and will not use such weapons even against the terrorists who are targeting our people,” Syria’s foreign minister Walid Moallem told reporters.
Moallem’s statement echoed that of ally Moscow — Russia’s defence ministry on Wednesday had said the toxic agents were released when a Syrian airstrike hit a rebel chemical weapons arsenal and munitions factory on the town’s eastern outskirts.
However, the Syria and Russia’s explanation has been dismissed as “fanciful” by experts, who say sarin stores would be destroyed if hit .
Israel said they believe Syrian government forces were behind the attack.
US President Donald Trump accused Assad of going “beyond a red line” and said his attitude toward Syria and Assad had changed, but gave no indication of how he would respond.
France’s foreign minister called for the prosecution of Assad’s government. Jean-Marc Ayrault told the media on Thursday that a new UN resolution and Syrian peace negotiations should be a top priority.
“France is still seeking to talk with its partners on the Security Council ... Russia in particular,” he said, adding, “These crimes must not remain unpunished . ... One day, international justice will rule on Assad.”
Meanwhile, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a “scandal” that no UN Security Ccouncil resolution was passed on the chemical attack.