Russia calls for UN to meet to ‘avert war’
UNITED NATIONS, New York – Russia has asked for the UN Security Council to meet on Friday in order to “avert war.”
Russia has also requested the UN Secretary-General brief the council.
The move comes as the US, UK, and France are considering military action in Syria in response to alleged chemical weapon use by the regime in Damascus.
“Now we have to make some further decisions, so they will be made fairly soon,” US President Donald Trump said on Thursday as his top national security advisors, including US Defense Secretary James Mattis, gathered for a meeting at the White House, AFP reported.
French, British, and American war ships have moved within range of Syria. Skies over Syria are empty as airlines avoid the airspace.
Moscow said that their military communication lines with the US in Syria are open and being used. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, speaking to reporters after a closed-door Security Council meeting Thursday morning, stressed that avoiding war is the “immediate priority.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May held an emergency cabinet meeting and “agreed the prime minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response” to allegations of chemical weapon use in Syria, according to a statement from Downing Street.
France’s Emmanuel Macron said he has “proof” Syria’s Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons and vowed to respond.
American officials have also said they have evidence chlorine gas and a nerve agent were used in Douma.
A fact-finding mission from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is en route to Syria and will begin work on Saturday.
Russia has also requested the UN Secretary-General brief the council.
The move comes as the US, UK, and France are considering military action in Syria in response to alleged chemical weapon use by the regime in Damascus.
“Now we have to make some further decisions, so they will be made fairly soon,” US President Donald Trump said on Thursday as his top national security advisors, including US Defense Secretary James Mattis, gathered for a meeting at the White House, AFP reported.
French, British, and American war ships have moved within range of Syria. Skies over Syria are empty as airlines avoid the airspace.
Moscow said that their military communication lines with the US in Syria are open and being used. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, speaking to reporters after a closed-door Security Council meeting Thursday morning, stressed that avoiding war is the “immediate priority.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May held an emergency cabinet meeting and “agreed the prime minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response” to allegations of chemical weapon use in Syria, according to a statement from Downing Street.
France’s Emmanuel Macron said he has “proof” Syria’s Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons and vowed to respond.
American officials have also said they have evidence chlorine gas and a nerve agent were used in Douma.
A fact-finding mission from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is en route to Syria and will begin work on Saturday.