Russia backs investigation of gassing that killed 80 in Syria

As chemical weapons watchdog makes contact with Damascus, there is crucial shift in support for Al Assad from Kremlin

BEIRUT // Russia yesterday said it was in favour of a full investigation into the poison gas attack that killed more than 80 people in north-west Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov also said Russian support for Syrian president Bashar Al Assad was not unconditional.

While the Russians gave no indication of who should conduct the investigation, it was the first flinch by Syria’s staunch ally in the face of universal condemnation of the Syrian government and offered a glimmer of hope for a UN Security Council resolution condemning the attack and demanding the Syrians release flight plans for Tuesday, the day of the attack.

The global chemical weapons watchdog revealed it had “initiated contact” with the Syrian authorities. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW) said it had also asked all members of the Chemical Weapons Convention to share “any information they may have regarding the allegations of chemical weapons use in the Khan Sheikhoun area of Idlib province”.

Russia had used its veto to block a draft resolution presented by Britain, France and the US, calling it “categorically unacceptable” and put forward a rival draft that did not include demands for the Syrian government to cooperate.

But yesterday, hopes rose for a vote as the evidence pointing to the use of chemical weapons on civilians increased.

The Turkish health ministry said the first analysis of autopsies performed on victims taken across the border into Turkey indicated that they had been exposed to the nerve gas, sarin. Samples would also be sent to The Hague for testing by the OPCW. The Syrian government insisted it had not used chemical weapons.

“I stress, once again, that the Syrian Arab Army did not and will not use such weapons even against the terrorists who are targeting our people,” said foreign minister Walid Moallem.

He repeated the Syrian government’s claim – backed up by Russia – that toxic agents were released when Syrian warplanes bombed a warehouse belonging to the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. Asked whether his country would allow access to a fact-finding mission, Mr Moallem said Damascus would want guarantees of impartiality and no political bias.

At the UN yesterday, key Security Council members were trying to reach agreement on a resolution that would authorise an OPCW investigation.