Syria slams chemical attack in rebel-held Douma as 'premeditated allegations'
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, April 9, 2018
The Syrian Foreign Ministry responded to the rebels' claims of chemical weapons use by the Syrian army in Douma district near Damascus as "premeditated pretexts," according to state news agency SANA.
The ministry said the allegations have been planned beforehand to prolong the lives of the "terrorists" in Douma.
A day earlier, activists said the Syrian forces used chlorine gas in an attack against Douma, the last rebel-held area in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus.
They said that tens of people suffered suffocation as a result.
The ministry said the rebels use such allegations every time the army makes a progress.
The new escalation comes as the Islam Army rebels, who are in control of Douma, have undermined a deal with the Syrian government and the Russian side designed to evacuate the rebels and their families from Douma as well as to release kidnapped people from the rebels' prisons in Douma.
This has triggered a major assault by the army on Friday and Saturday on Douma coupled with the rebels' shelling on Damascus.
On Sunday, the rebels agreed to evacuate after succumbing under pressure.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)