MOSCOW. Aug 3 (Interfax) - The information on the use of bombs with toxic gas in the area of Syria where a Russian military-cargo Mi-8 helicopter was shot down on Monday is untrue, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad said.
"As regards this situation: everything that was reported in the media on the use of chlorine in the city of Idlib is pure imagination," Haddad said in an interview with Interfax.
"According to my information, Jabhat al-Nusra [banned in Russia] has toxic weapons. And even ISIL [banned in Russia] has such weapons. They used it in several places in Syria: the first cities were Hanaas and Guta. We are confident that they have such weapons, whereas the Syrian army could never have used such weapons," the ambassador said.
Haddad also extended his condolences to the families of the killed crew of the Russian helicopter. "Unfortunately, the Russian helicopter whose purpose was to provide assistance, including medical, was the terrorists' target on the way back. I would like to use this chance to extend my condolences to the families of the killed people because it's a big loss, especially in the light of the fact that the crew was on a peacekeeping humanitarian mission," he said.
According to the Russian General Staff, a Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in Syria on Monday over an area controlled by the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra and the 'moderate opposition' units that have joined it.
The helicopter was carrying three crewmembers and two officers from the Russian center for reconciliation of the parties in conflict in Syria.