I would say - at this stage -
"the sh$t just hit the fan"! The Russian Defense Ministry, in a Press briefing, has just accused UK/London stating, Russia has evidence of
UK's direct involvement in organizing the filming and mock-up chemical weapons attack in Douma. This evidence will probably blow the Skripal Case wide open and the reason behind the expulsion of Russian Diplomats?
13.04.2018 - We have Evidence of UK's Role in Staging Douma Provocation - Russian MoD (Video)
We Have Evidence of UK's Role in Staging Douma Provocation - Russian MoD
An apparent false flag chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7 has served as a pretext for the United States to threaten the Middle Eastern country with a missile strike; Russia has been calling for a transparent investigation while local doctors have said no one has asked for medical treatment for poisoning.
The Russian Defense Ministry holds a press briefing on what the Western narrative describes as an alleged chemical attack in Syria's Eastern Ghouta.
No evidence has been presented to support the claim. A Russian chemical corps commission that has been sent to Douma reported that
no traces of chemical poisoning were found. On April 12, US Defense Secretary acknowledged
the Pentagon had no evidence of chlorine or sarin use in Douma.
Speaking at the briefing, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the ministry has enough evidence that the planned provocation with the use of chemical weapons was carried out in Syria's Douma on April 7.
He added that the United States and Western countries continue their "indiscriminate and unfounded accusations" against the legitimate Syrian government over the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in Eastern Ghouta.
However almost a week on, the United States and some European countries have failed to provide any evidence, according to him.
"The Russian Defense Ministry has plenty of evidence that on April 7, a planned provocation was carried out in Douma with the aim of misleading the world community.
The provocation's real purpose today is clear to everyone — to prod the United States to launch missile strikes against Syria," Konashenkov stressed.
He said that also, the Russian Defense Ministry has evidence of the UK's direct involvement in organizing this provocation.
According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry found those who took part in filming the mock-up chemical weapons attack in Douma. Those participants briefed the ministry on details of the filming.
"Right now, the Russian Defense Ministry has other evidence indicating Britain's direct participation in organizing this provocation in Eastern Ghouta," Konashenkov noted.
He added that
between April 3 and April 6, London put pressure on representatives of the so-called White Helmets group in order to facilitate the implementation of the provocation.
Separately, he said that the Russian Reconciliation Center along with Syrian authorities are wrapping up a large-scale humanitarian operation in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta.
"A total of 170,152 people were evacuated from the area, including 63,117 militants and members of their families," Konashenkov said.
All the settlements of Eastern Ghouta are currently under control of Syria's government forces. The Russian military police were deployed to the area to monitor the situation and maintain law, according to him.
"With the situation in this Damascus suburb showing signs of stabilization, civilians return to their homes. To date, their number stands at about 63,000. In other words, more than half of those residents who were earlier evacuated have returned home," Konashenkov stressed.
13.04.2018 - Militants were Ordered to Attach in Syria after possible US Strike - Moscow
Militants Were Ordered to Attack in Syria After Possible US Strike - Moscow
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya noted that the US is apparently playing out a military scenario in Syria, which can have grave consequences for the global security, taking into consideration the fact that Russian military forces are present in the country.
Moscow has information that militants were ordered to launch an offensive in Syria after Washington's possible military action in the country, according to the envoy. He added that terrorists would benefit from feasible attack on Syrian government troops.
"We continue to observe dangerous preparations for an illegal military action against a sovereign state in breach of international law. Not only the use of force, but also a threat to use it violates the UN Charter," Nebenzya said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
According to him, Washington is enacting a military scenario in Syria, which can have grave consequences for global security. Nebenzya went on saying that Washington will have to pay for such a scenario as well as for previous interventions.
The Russian envoy has called on the US and its allies to reconsider their decisions on Syria, stressing that Moscow is ready to engage in cooperation.
According to the ambassador, the recent events in Iraq and Libya demonstrate that the US partners have a purely consumer-oriented attitude towards the Security Council.
"They need the Council as a cover for Iraqi test tubes," Nebenzya said, referring to the 2003 US-led Iraqi intervention prompted by the unfounded allegations that Baghdad was in posession of chemical weapons.
"You show us the same virtual empty test tube now. Irresponsible US behavior that violates international law and the sovereignty of states is unworthy of a permanent member of the UN Security Council," the envoy added.
13.04.2018 - UK Parties urge May to discuss London's Possible Military Action in Syria
UK Parties Urge May to Discuss London's Possible Military Action in Syria
Numerous UK parties have urged Prime Minister Theresa May to not make decisions on the country's possible military action in Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma without first holding parliamentary consultations.
Reports about the alleged attack in the Syrian town of Douma emerged on Saturday. The European Union and the United States have rushed to blame the Syrian government forces for the incident, but Damascus has refuted the allegations. US President Donald Trump, French leader Emmanuel Macron and May agreed on Tuesday that the international community needed to respond to the alleged chemical weapons attack.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of UK opposition Labour party, has repeatedly called for engaging parliament in the discussion on potential UK military action in Syria. He stressed that military intervention in Syria might further escalate "an already devastating conflict."
"It is vital that parliament has the chance to debate and decide in advance on any government proposals to support a new US-led military intervention in Syria, which risks a dangerous escalation of the conflict," Corbyn said on Twitter on Thursday.
Ian Blackford, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) group in the House of Commons, explained that parliamentary debates on the issue needed to happen because "an ill-considered rush to military action" could deteriorate the situation in Syria.
Our Parliament must have to opportunity to debate and to vote on this most important matter. Proper scrutiny and democratic principles must be applied. The House of Commons must be recalled as a matter of urgency… A solution must be found to bring this war to an end. A rash, closed-door decision for military action is not the answer," Blackford said in a statement, published on his Twitter.
Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru-Party of Wales, noted that London must not partake in any military campaign "at any cost" without approval from parliament.
"The UK must not at any cost participate in military action of any kind without parliamentary consent. This should be reflected within the international community through securing UN backing for any intervention," Wood wrote on his Twitter page.
Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, also stressed the need for a discussion on the matter in parliament.
Cabinet agreement on #SyriaCrisis not sufficient for action. #Parliament must consider evidence, objectives and vote. Can be recalled tomorrow or over the weekend. Very unwise to press ahead without mandate," Cable posted on Twitter.
Moscow has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged attack to be conducted before conclusions are made. Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow had irrefutable evidence that the alleged chemical attack in Douma was staged with the involvement of foreign security services.
11.04.2018 - May Ready to Allow UK Participation in Airstrikes in Syria - Reports
May Ready to Allow UK Participation in Airstrikes in Syria - Reports
Despite the fact that the alleged chemical attack in Syria's Douma, blamed on Damascus, still lacks any reliable evidence, Theresa May is reportedly ready to take action to prevent another one.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May "looks ready" to join military actions in Syria currently being mulled by the US and coalition forces without the approval of the country's parliament, BBC reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
According to sources, May considers it necessary to act urgently, explaining that the Assad's government was guilty of what she described as an "abhorrent crime". In addition, she does not want to delay the decision of US President Donald Trump and seeks to avoid the obstruction caused by the parliament's approval procedure.
Earlier in the day the leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, demanded to hold a parliamentary vote to green-light a potential military strike against Syria, the Sky News broadcaster reported. He called on May to "get every country including the US and Russia, as well as the neighboring states, around the table in Geneva to bring about a political solution."
The tough stance follows Tuesday's agreement reached by the UK prime minister, US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, stipulating that the international community should respond to the alleged chemical attack in Syria's town of Douma.
Trump Still Mulling Move, But Already Makes Harsh Statements on Twitter
US President Donald Trump has promised to make a decision on the actions against Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in the country by Wednesday.
Despite the lack of credible evidence on the issue and denial by the Syrian authorities, Trump tweeted a harsh remark on Wednesday, calling for Russia to "get ready" for "nice and new and smart" American missiles in Syria.
His social media storm comes in line with his April 9 statements, saying that he was mulling a "powerful" military response to the alleged chemical attack, blamed by Syrian opposition media outlets on the Syrian government without any actual proof.
The mentioned reports were published by several Syrian opposition media platforms, citing militants, on April 7. They claimed that Syrian government forces had used chemical weapons against civilians in the city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta. The story was immediately shared by the White Helmets, which started posting unverified footage of the aftermath of the alleged attack, with claims that up to 70 people had died of "widespread suffocation."
The United States and its allies were quick to blame the attack on Damascus, emphasizing that a "history" of using such weapons by the Syrian authorities was "not in dispute."