MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax-AVN) - UN representatives have not found any evidence of the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Eastern Ghouta, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
"The UN representatives who are in Damascus with free access to Eastern Ghouta have never found any evidence proving that these 'reports' [on the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Eastern Ghouta by Syrian government forces] were true," Konashenkov said in response to United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's statement that the UK stood ready to strike government forces in Syria if it was proven that they used chemical weapons against civilians.
In alleging the use of chemical weapons in Syria, British and U.S. representatives have cited certain incoming reports, Konashenkov said.
"They didn't say, however, that these 'reports' alleging the use of 'chemical weapons' had been prepared and circulated via social networks by propaganda entities they set up themselves. Namely, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian American Medical Society located in the U.S. state of Illinois," Konashenkov said.
The Defense Ministry has questioned the authenticity of a video released by the organization White Helmets purportedly showing Syrian civilians affected by chemical weapons.