Gunmen target UN weapons inspectors

A United Nations security team visiting the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria was fired on, forcing members to retreat to their base and further delaying a factfinding mission to examine the claims.

Gunmen shot at the UN teamindoumaontuesday and detonated an explosive. The town is under the protection of Russia’s military police, with the UK and US governments accusing Russia and Syria of trying to cover up the alleged attack.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had not entered Douma, and that the evidence is at risk of decaying as delays drag on.

Downing Street denied claims from the SNP that MPS sympathetic to air strikes on the Syrian regime were given a private intelligence briefing with the national security adviser, insisting that the same information was made available to all members of parliament.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said he would step up calls for the party to have a second serving MP added to the Privy Council, in order to receive confidential briefings.