Russia Backtracks on Syria Chemical Attack Claim

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Russia backtracked Wednesday over claims that Syrian rebels had used chemical weapons, saying the information still had to be checked.

The foreign ministry said on Tuesday it had information from Damascus the rebels had used chemical weapons in an attack that day in Aleppo province that Syria claimed killed 16 people.

But Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov, Russia's pointman on the Middle East, said there was no clear evidence proving the use of weapons of mass destruction.

"The story concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria must be meticulously investigated," Gatilov wrote on his Twitter account.

"For now, there is no unequivocal evidence about this."

Russia is viewed as one of Syria's closest allies and has three times blocked UN sanctions against President Bashar Assad's regime.

Comments 5
Thumb primesuspect 20 March 2013, 20:56

Theyre letting them down... Slowly.

Default-user-icon Murad (Guest) 21 March 2013, 05:42

Right on Josh. In fact, Russia is asking for something the US does not actually want: an investigation.

Missing samiam 21 March 2013, 13:06

Actually, Russia is finally taking what the ASSad regime claims with a grain of salt--everyone knows the regime lies repeatedly and often to suit its needs.

Default-user-icon bawlbaby (Guest) 21 March 2013, 18:43

The Russians are human. NATO and their outlaws are not. And neither are many of you trolls posting here. The world sees you. Viva RUSSIA!

Default-user-icon L Shale (Guest) 29 August 2013, 19:33

How sad there are human beings in this life who are so cruel and despicable with no feeling or emotion for others. In Britain we would call it mental and insane. I wish I could understand and how do these maniacs get into power! Power and greed can be so dangerous and the people who support it are just as bad!