Macron, Trump agree toxic gas used in Syria, need to establish responsibility
President Emmanuel Macron and his U.S.counterpart Donald Trump agreed on Monday that chemical weapons had been used against civilians in Syria's Eastern Ghouta on April 7, and said they would work together to establish clear responsibility for the attack.
- World
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 12:00 | 09 April 2018
- Modified Date: 11:38 | 09 April 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call that chemical weapons had been used in Syria's Eastern Ghouta on April 7, and would work together to establish clear responsibility for their use.
They "exchanged their information and analysis confirming the use of chemical weapons," the French presidency said in a statement early on Monday.
"All responsibilities in this area must be clearly established," added the French presidency's statement.
The statement also said the two leaders had instructed their teams to deepen exchanges in the coming days and co-ordinate their efforts at the U.N. Security Council on Monday. The two leaders will discuss the subject again within 48 hours.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called on Sunday for an emergency meeting of the Security Council over the chemical attack late Saturday by the Syrian regime which killed dozens of civilians.
At least 70 civilians were killed after forces of the Bashar al-Assad regime struck targets in Eastern Ghouta's Douma district in an attack in which poison gas appears to have been used, according to the White Helmets.
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