Russia, China prevent official UN probe on Syria chemical weapons

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's opposition accused government forces of Damascus suburbs, killing men, women and children as they slept, according to Ynetnews.

With the death toll estimated between 500 and 1,300, what would be the world's most lethal chemical weapons attack since the 1980s prompted an emergency meeting of the UN.

The council did not explicitly demand a UN investigation of the incident, although it said "clarity" was needed and welcomed UN chief.

An earlier Western-drafted statement submitted to the council, seen by Reuters, was not approved. The final version of the statement was watered down to accommodate objections from Russia and China, diplomats said. Moscow and Beijing have vetoed previous Western efforts to impose UN penalties on Assad.

Rockets fired from multiple launchers and heavy mortar rounds hit the eastern neighborhoods of Jobar and Zamalka, among areas on the eastern outskirts of the capital affected by chemical weapons attack that killed between 500 and 1,300 people on Wednesday, August 21 they said. The nearby district of Qaboun to the north and the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp area to the south were also hit, the activists added.

Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi said the allegations were "illogical and fabricated".

Immediate international action is likely to be limited, with the divisions among major powers that have crippled efforts to quell 2 1/2 years of civil war still much in evidence.

Russia backed up Syrian government denials by saying it looked like a rebel "provocation" to discredit Assad.