Macron says has 'proof' of Syrian chemical attack, vows response
Source: Times of India
AFP | Apr 12, 2018, 18:08 IST
BERD'HUIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he would respond to "proof" that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons, "at a time of our choosing."
"We have proof that chemical weapons were used last week, at least chlorine, and that they were used by the regime of Bashar al-Assad," Macron said during an interview on France's TF1 television.
Macron added that he was in daily contact with US President Donald Trump and that they would decide on their response "at a time of our choosing, when we judge it to be the most useful and the most effective." The French leader, who had made the use of chemical weapons in Syria a "red line", said one of his aims in Syria was to "remove the regime's chemical attack capabilities". But he repeated that he wanted to also avoid "an escalation".
"France will in no way allow an escalation or anything that would harm regional stability, but we cannot allow regimes that believe they can act with impunity to violate international law in the worst possible way."
###
Read more: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/macron-says-has-proof-of-syrian-chemical-attack-vows-response/articleshow/63732865.cms
As U.S. Mulls Retaliation, France Says It Has Proof That Syria Used Chlorine Gas
By Associated Press | April 12, 2018 9:33 am
PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron says France has proof that the Syrian government launched chlorine gas attacks.
Macron said Thursday that France would not tolerate “regimes that think everything is permitted.” Speaking on TF1 television, Macron said “we have proof that chemical weapons were used, at least chlorine” in recent days by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.
He did not say whether France is planning military action against Assad’s government. Macron said he has been talking regularly this week with U.S. President Donald Trump about the most effective response.
With increasing concerns about a U.S.-Russia proxy war in Syria, Macron insisted that “France will not allow an escalation or something that could damage the stability” of the region. On Tuesday, Macron said any French action would target Syria’s chemical weapons abilities.
Syrian opposition activists and medics say a suspected gas attack last week in Douma killed more than 40 people. The Syrian government has denied the allegations.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/france-says-proof-chlorine-gas-syria
= new reply since forum marked as read
