Russia on Friday urged Syria’s government to cooperate with UN experts over claims it waged deadly chemical weapons attacks, as calls grew for international action over the alleged atrocity.
The UN children's agency UNICEF said, meanwhile, that one million Syrian children now live as refugees abroad as a result of the country’s 29-month conflict.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a statement issued after he held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart John Kerry, called for rebel fighters to allow UN inspectors safe access to areas where chemical weapons are alleged to have been used.
“It is now up to the opposition to ensure safe access for the mission to the site of the alleged incident,” said Lavrov.
Both Lavrov and US Secretary of State Kerry agreed on the need for an “objective investigation,” his ministry said in a statement.
“Common interest was expressed in an objective investigation by a UN expert mission, which is currently in the country, in connection with the reports about the possible use of chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb.”
UN Secretary General Ban said there was “no time to lose” in probing the alleged attacks, and urged Damascus to allow a UN team already on the ground to begin an investigation without delay.
UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned the conflict is “the biggest threat to peace and security in the world”.