Russia claims Syrian chemical attack was ‘staged’

Moscow: Russia has claimed that it has “irrefutable” data that an apparent chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma in eastern Ghouta was staged by special services of a foreign country.

“We have the irrefutable data that this [chemical attack] was staged, and special services of a country, which is now seeking to be in the first ranks of the Russophobic campaign, were involved in this staged event,” TASS reported, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as saying.

On Saturday, at least 40 people were killed in the attack on Syria’s rebel-held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta according to volunteer first responders and activists.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry claims that no evidence of chemicals or deaths in the bombing area were found in its inspection.

The strike is suspected to be a chemical attack, but the Syrian government denied the allegations saying it was fabricated by the rebels who were in a state of decline.

U.S. officials suspect the Russia-backed Assad regime is behind the attack.

Eastern Ghouta has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years with humanitarian access being completely cut off.(ANI)