(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) PARIS, April 26 (KUNA) -- After France categorically accused Syria Wednesday of responsibility for the Khan Sheikhoun chemical weapons attack on April 4, via Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, French President Francois Hollande indicated afterwards that he would allow publication of the findings that he said clearly indict the Syrian regime.
In a statement after the Defence and Security Council meeting earlier in the day, the Elysee Palace said that intelligence services presented evidence to top government and security ministers and officials on the chemical attack.
"The intelligence services presented to the Council national elements that permit us to affirm, in an independent manner, the implication of the Syrian regime forces in the attack carried out on April 4 in Khan Sheikhoun," the statement said.
France said a week ago that it would be bringing forward proof that the regime of Bashar Al-Assad had "knowingly" used prohibited chemical weapons against the population and Ayrault said that earlier he has the supporting elements in hand now.
"These elements demonstrate, among other things, that the regime still has war-grade chemical agents in violation of commitments to eliminate them, which were given in 2013," Hollande said. In a major operation that year, Syria was to have handed over all chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction and to have dismantled production facilities for these arms. Syria also ratified international conventions against use of chemical weapons.
France had wanted to carry out air strikes against Syria after the Al-Ghouta massive chemical attack that killed an estimated 1,500 people in 2013 but Paris did not get support from Britain and the United States for a military operation, and Hollande has complained many times that such an operation would have stopped Al-Assad's use of chemical arms.
After Khan Sheikhoun, the US did carry out missile strikes against Syrian air force facilities believed to have been involved in the attack. (pickup previous) jk.gta
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