French president has ‘proof’ chemical weapons were used

France’s President Emmanuel Macron says he has “proof” that the Syrian government attacked the town of Douma with chemical weapons last weekend.

He said he would decide “in due course” whether to respond with air strikes.

Urine and blood samples from victims of the attack have tested positive for chlorine and a nerve agent, media reports quote US officials as saying.

Western states are thought to be preparing for missile strikes. Russia strongly opposes such action.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged against “any steps which could lead to an escalation of tensions”.

Mr Macron said France would not tolerate “regimes that think everything is permitted”.

Speaking on TF1 television, Mr Macron said: “We have proof that chemical weapons were used, at least chlorine” in recent days by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.

He did not say whether France is planning military action against Assad’s government.

Mr Macron said he has been talking regularly this week with US President Donald Trump about the most effective response.

With increasing concerns about a US-Russia proxy war in Syria, Mr Macron insisted that “France will not allow an escalation or something that could damage the stability” of the region.

On Tuesday, Mr Macron said any French action would target Syria’s chemical weapons abilities.

Syrian opposition activists and medics say a suspected gas attack last week in Douma killed more than 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations.

Yesterday, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis told a congressional panel: “I believe there was a chemical attack and we are looking for the actual evidence.”

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “We condemn in the strongest terms the use of chemical weapons.

“The latest attack was horrendous.”

The British Cabinet has met to discuss the government’s response.

Later in the day, the UN Security Council was holding an emergency meeting on the crisis.

The French leader had previously said any strikes would target the Syrian government’s “chemical capabilities”.

Picture: Getty. Security officials inspect the debris of a bomb-laden vehicle after it exploded near the local council building in the opposition controlled Azaz district in northern Syria.

Picture: PA. French president Emmanuel Macron.