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Alleged Syria chemical attack unites nations in condemnation as Trump calls al-Assad an 'animal'

Widespread claims today suggest that an attack on the town of Douma, which killed 70 people, saw the Syrian regime use deadly chlorine gas on the town’s residents.

SYRIA-DAMASCUS-DOUMA-SYRIAN ARMY-STROMING-ISLAM ARMY Smoke rises from the town of Douma yesterday as the Syrian army continued its shelling attack Xinhua News Agency / PA Images Xinhua News Agency / PA Images / PA Images

Updated 7.04 pm

US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has described the deadly attack in the Syrian town of Douma as ‘mindless’ and stated explicitly that it was a chemical attack.

There has been widespread condemnation today of the attack, which left 70 people dead.

Nine countries have demanded an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting tomorrow after the alleged chemical attack.

France initiated the move, and the request was also signed by the United States, Britain, Kuwait, Sweden, Poland, Peru, the Netherlands and Ivory Coast, the sources said.

The meeting is tentatively called for 7pm GMT but needs to be formally confirmed.

Along with Syria’s ally Russia, France, the US and Britain are permanent members of the Security Council, as is China.

The EU said it have evidence suggesting he Syrian regime carried out the chemical attack in Douma and urged Damascus’s allies Russia and Iran to help prevent another attack.

“The evidence points towards yet another chemical attack by the regime,” the European External Action Service said. “We call on the supporters of the regime, Russia and Iran, to use their influence to prevent any further attack.”

Trump

Earlier, the US itself strongly condemned the alleged chemical weapons attack in Eastern Ghouta, saying if proved Russia would bear some responsibility due to its “unwavering support” for the regime.

Douma, the last opposition holdout in Eastern Ghouta, was pounded by renewed airstrikes that killed 70 civilians in around 24 hours – while 11 people also suffered breathing problems.

First responders have accused forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of using poisonous chlorine gas.

Taking to his favourite medium of Twitter this afternoon, Trump placed the blame for the attack firmly on Russia and Iran for their backing of Al-Assad.

“Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!” he tweeted.

He also took the opportunity to lay some blame at the door of his predecessor Barack Obama, stating that if  he had: “crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago!”

Animal Assad would have been history!

Earlier, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: “”These reports, if confirmed, are horrifying and demand an immediate response by the international community.”

“The Assad regime and its backers must be held accountable and any further attacks prevented immediately,” she said in a statement.

Russia, with its unwavering support for the regime, ultimately bears responsibility for these brutal attacks.

Nauert repeated the US’s previous assertions that Moscow had “breached its commitments to the United Nations as a framework guarantor” and questioned the Kremlin’s commitment to ending the crisis.

“Russia’s protection of the Assad regime and failure to stop the use of chemical weapons in Syria calls into question its commitment to resolving the overall crisis and to larger non-proliferation priorities,” she said, calling upon Moscow to join international efforts to prevent further attacks.

Iran has labelled allegations of the chemical attack as a “conspiracy” against al-Assad and a pretext for military action.

“Such allegations and accusations by the Americans and certain Western countries signal a new conspiracy against the Syrian government and people, and a pretext for military action,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Syrian regime has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons, with the United Nations among those blaming government forces for a deadly sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun in April 2017.

Since February 18, the regime’s Ghouta offensive has killed more than 1,600 civilians.

The regime has used a combination of a fierce military onslaught and two negotiated withdrawals to empty out 95 percent of the enclave near Damascus, but rebels are still entrenched in its largest town of Douma.

Additional reporting Cianan Brennan and Rónán Duffy

© – AFP, 2018

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    Mute Pavel Shipilov
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:32 AM

    Its factual stuff. Vodka kills. My uncle in east Russia was an alcoholic he drunk minimum 1 bottle a day. My aunt had horrible life, its not just that vodka kills its also ruins families…

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    Mute David Giles
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:53 AM

    For hundreds of years, many people in Russia have lived miserable lives. Their solace has been vodka, the true opiate of the masses. For hundreds of years, many people in Ireland lived miserable lives. Their solace has been poteen, whiskey, stout and now, gin, vodka, rum, wine, cocaine, amphetamines and heroin.

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    Mute Nicole McCormack
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:16 AM

    A bottle a day Pavel? Wow how long did he manage that for ?

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    Mute Jon S W Rainey
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:37 AM

    Bottle of Vodka in Russian Supermarket for as little as 199 Rubels – about 4euro. Even cheaper on black market. However, I would argue it is a generational thing, and younger Russians don’t have the same attraction to daily drinking as older people. Jobs are plentiful, social mobility is on the increase and better health education. I still get shocked the high (massive) percentage of people who smoke – must be close to 50% of the population. The vast majority of this I suspect is concentrated in lower socio-economic class, as the risks are poorly explained. What Pavel says above is very true – whatever the impact on the alcoholic themselves, it is the family, kids and friends who often suffer a greater pain.

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    Mute Padraic O'Dwyer
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    Jan 31st 2014, 3:46 PM

    @ Jon : Very sad to see so many young women smoking, More than men.

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    Mute stevejacobsboi
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:41 AM

    In Russia , vodka drinks you!

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    Mute Tracey Keating Coughlan
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:45 AM

    Drank volka once a few yrs back. Missed 2 days of my life trying to recover…… 2-3 bottles a week. Their liver must be pickled!

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    Mute michael collins
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:17 AM

    Was in Moscow few years back and could not get over how a group of men at the bar had a large bottle each!!!! And drinking it like milk serious problem !

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    Mute Padraic O'Dwyer
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:41 AM

    @ Micheal : Part of the problem is vodka is very cheap. You can buy a bottle in a supermarket for just over 100 Rubles. 1.5 Euro. That said there has been a major switchover to beer in the last five years or so, especially by younger people who consider it un cool to drink vodka. In addition to that they are much better educated as to its dangers. Beer ranges from anything between 1.50 Eur. in a small bar for 0.5 , and 9.50 Eur for a Guinness or Kilkenny in Moscow .

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    Mute Padraic O'Dwyer
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    Jan 31st 2014, 12:28 PM

    Mistake above.. In Tatarstan bottle of vodka 120 Rubels = 2.65 Eur. Still very cheap

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    Mute ptriley
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:03 AM

    Believe it or not but an awful lot of Irish people are drinking just as much vodka.

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    Mute John Gleeson
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:31 AM

    One of my friends aunties would easily do a large bottle per day!

    49
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    Mute Darren Savage
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:10 AM

    Vodka you talking about?

    83
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    Mute Birch Barlow
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:25 AM

    It’s a woman? Good lord!

    81
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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:01 AM

    Better drink up, Putin. At 63 you’re already living on borrowed time.

    72
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    Mute Plantation Watch
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:22 AM

    Putin doesn’t Drink.

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    Mute Michael Looney
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    Jan 31st 2014, 10:36 AM

    Typical.. The one c*nt you want to die from vodka doesn’t drink!! Booooo!

    48
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    Mute Pat Lonergan
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:41 AM

    And this is something new? Come on .

    71
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    Mute Irish Water
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:24 AM

    Drink Water,more expensive but better for you

    63
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    Mute Joanne Andrew
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:11 AM

    A 750ml bottle has approx 21 ‘pub’ 35ml measures. Even 1 bottle a week would be a lot, but 3 is slow suicide which too many people are doing

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    Mute Liam
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:37 AM

    Really? I never would have believed it.

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    Mute Lenny Leonard
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:50 AM

    I’ll think about that when I’m hoovering a 2nd bag up my nose later!

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    Mute Scarr
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:00 AM

    Vodka’s a hell of a drug.

    24
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    Mute Pa Jama
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:42 AM

    Breaking news! Irish men drink too much Guinness!

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    Mute Foxys Bicycle
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:27 AM

    Guinness for strength !!

    48
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    Mute Cillian_Durkin
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:37 AM

    Pa

    There is quiet a difference between a pint of Guinness and a pint of Vodka.

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    Mute Neil Cash
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:47 AM

    Go home vodka, you’re drunk

    27
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    Mute Geralyn Early
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:45 AM

    All spirits are deadly for the body even in small amounts. I gave up drinking spirits when I was 22 years old due to some crazy incidents and 17 years on I still don’t miss them!!! :)

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    Mute Lena Duncan
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:45 AM

    ffs let them at it.nobody forcing them .this is sad for the journal if this is news

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    Mute alanobrien
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:21 AM

    Go way 55 is long enough to live

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    Mute John Bawn
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    Jan 31st 2014, 12:26 PM

    Will you say that when you are fifty four Alan?

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    Mute Masha Dabrynets
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:30 AM

    Ireland is no different

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    Mute Dennis Collins
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    Jan 31st 2014, 4:06 PM

    Well clearly it is because 1/4 of all Irish men aren’t dead by 55.

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    Mute Kev
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:14 AM

    It’s their lives.. They have chosen this life. I’m sure it’s pretty miserable for them either way

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    Mute kingstown
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:52 AM

    Quickly, someone send Putin a bottle

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    Mute Richarddoherty
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    Jan 31st 2014, 5:27 PM

    Horrible drink dont know why any one drink this stuff

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    Mute classic
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    Jan 31st 2014, 5:54 PM

    Stops the blood from freezing in the cold Russian winter

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    Mute Paschal Lehany
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:42 PM

    Alcohol doesn’t raise body temperature. All it does is make you feel warmer. Which is fine if you just want to feel a bit warmer, but useless to avoid hypothermia or any risk posed by low body temperature.

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    Mute Kieran Casey
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    Jan 31st 2014, 12:12 PM

    What constitutes news please tell me?

    3
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    Mute John Bawn
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    Jan 31st 2014, 12:28 PM

    Something that’s not “Old’s.

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Jan 31st 2014, 1:08 PM
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    Mute James Delaney
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    Feb 1st 2014, 2:47 AM

    Irish men n women will drink anything that resembles alcohol and they will die also.

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