EU agrees with strikes on Syria

LUXEMBOURG: European Union foreign ministers yesterday backed “all efforts” to stop Syria from using chemical weapons, after weekend strikes by Britain, France and the United States, but called for renewed efforts to find a political solution to the seven-year war.

The 28 ministers condemned the military offensive, backed by Russia, that the Syrian government was waging against rebels and called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian access.

US, French and British missiles destroyed suspected chemical weapons development and storage sites in Syria on Saturday in response to an alleged chemical attack in the town of Douma that killed at least 40 people.

In a statement after talks here, the ministers unequivocally blamed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for the Douma attack and gave implicit backing to Saturday’s Western military action.

“The council understands that the targeted US, French and UK airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria were specific measures... with the sole objective to prevent further use of chemical weapons and chemical substances as weapons by the Syrian regime to kill its own people,” the statement said.

“The council is supportive of all efforts aimed at the prevention of the use of chemical weapons.”