Nine countries convene UN Security Council because of chemical attack in Syria
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a meeting of the UN Security Council, saying that the reports about a chemical attack in eastern Ghouta are “a threat to international security.”
France called the incident “a serious violation of international law” and sharply condemned the attack. Following the United States, it put the blame on the Syrian authorities.
The call by Paris to convene the UN Security Council was supported by eight other countries, including the United States, Britain, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Kuwait, Peru and Cote d'Ivoire.
“Britain, France, the USA, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Kuwait, Peru and Cote d'Ivoire have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss reports of a chemical attack in Syria. The meeting is expected to take place on Monday,” reported the British Permanent Mission to the UN on Twitter.
Russia, in turn, offered to hold a meeting on Monday on the topic “Threats to peace and security,” which will be held just before the meeting about Syria.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied reports about the chemical attack by Bashar Assad’s government forces against rebels in the city of Douma in eastern Ghouta. Two days ago, the U.S. reported that 49 people were killed in the attack.