MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The West has reacted sluggishly to the provided evidence terrorists in eastern Aleppo have used chemical weapons, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.
The explosion of an artillery shell containing chlorine in eastern Aleppo on November 13 harmed 30 Syrian servicemen, she recalled.
"Officers from the research center of the Radiation and Chemical Protection Force have taken samples at the site of the incident," Zakharova said. "Analysis has confirmed the militants used chlorine as a chemical warfare agent." Also, Russian Defense Ministry specialists found unexploded ordnance stuffed with chlorine and white phosphorus in the west of Aleppo."
"It is noteworthy that Western politicians have responded sluggishly to this evidence testifying to the use of chemical warfare agents by militants. It’s a great annoyance for those who have been trying to portray militant groups in Syria, including those professing outspokenly terrorist views as fighters for the right cause," Zakharova said.
White Book on the militants’ crimes in Syria
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According to Zakharova, Moscow will circulate the second part of the ‘White Book’ on the militants’ crimes in Syria, among the US Security Council members and the UN agencies in Geneva.
"We have recently announced the release of the second part of the ‘White Book’ shedding light on the militants’ crimes in Syria. The document is based on eyewitness testimonies of civilian killings and attacks on civilian dwelling areas including chemical attacks," Zakharova noted. "Like the first part, the second part of the ‘White Book" will be circulated among the US Security Council members in New York and the UN agencies in Geneva."
"Like the first part, the second part of the ‘White Book" will be circulated among the US Security Council members in New York and the UN agencies in Geneva," the foreign ministry spokeswoman stressed.
In early October, Zakharova said that Russia had circulated a ‘White Book’ on Syria among the UN Security Council member states. She noted that the document contained photos concerning the military operations conducted by the US and its allies in Syria which had led to a large number of civilian deaths and inflicted great damage on civilian infrastructure.