NEW YORK: The US and Russia are again clashing over an expert body to determine responsibility for chemical attacks in Syria, with Washington circulating a new draft UN resolution and Moscow moving toward a vote on its own proposal.
The US and Russia have been lashing out at each other for months over the issue of accountability for chemical attacks in Syria, a close ally of Moscow.
Russia vetoed a Western-backed resolution in November that would have extended the mandate of the expert body charged with determining responsibility for chemical attacks.
Moscow circulated a new proposal in January, but Western powers say it gives Syria’s regime control over investigations.
The US circulated a proposal, obtained by AP, to establish a new body that would investigate in an “impartial, independent” manner.
The Syrian regime has denied using chemical weapons and Russia has questioned UN findings that it carried out sarin and chlorine attacks.
It was unclear when the US proposal, or a separate Russian draft resolution, on the Syrian chemical inquiry would come to a vote.
US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in a phone call that the Syrian regime must be held accountable.
“This applies both to the Assad regime’s deployment of chemical weapons and for its attacks against civilians and the blockade of humanitarian support,” a German chancellery statement said.
Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, vowed there would be “no impunity” in the event of further chemical weapons use in Syria.
The UN Human Rights Council on Friday postponed voting on a British resolution condemning the crisis in Eastern Ghouta, after members-states failed to agree on a final text.
The British draft introduced at an emergency council session calls for immediate humanitarian access to the area, where a controversial truce unilaterally declared by Damascus-ally Russia has been unable to produce a breakthrough.
The draft also instructs war crimes investigators from the UN-backed Commission of Inquiry for Syria to conduct an investigation into alleged atrocities in the area, battered by a Russia-backed regime assault that began Feb. 18.
US, Russia clash over blame for Syria chemical attacks
US, Russia clash over blame for Syria chemical attacks
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian facilities in Jericho
- Israeli authorities have conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures
- Excluding East Jerusalem, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank
LONDON: Israeli authorities demolished a house on Thursday in the town of Deir Al-Dik, located west of Jericho in the West Bank, and issued a demolition order for another structure east of the city.
Israeli bulldozers stormed Deir Al-Dik and demolished a house belonging to a resident of Jerusalem, claiming it was built without a permit, according to the Wafa news agency.
Forces also demolished a barracks in the city that belonged to the Abu Jarar factory and issued a demolition order for another structure related to the Sinqrat palm grove, east of Jericho.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that the Israeli authorities conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures. This included 304 occupied homes, 74 unoccupied homes, 270 economic facilities and 490 agricultural facilities, primarily in Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tubas and Nablus.
Excluding East Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank.
