Russia says new allegations that Syrian government forces have used toxic chemicals against rebels are false.
The Foreign Ministry on April 25 accused rebel supporters of spreading such claims in order to develop a pretext for foreign military intervention in the Syrian war.
France and the United States have recently alleged that President Bashar al-Assad's forces could have used chlorine gas in attacks targeting rebel areas this month. There have been calls for an international investigation.
Russia, a longtime Syrian government ally, earlier defended the regime against allegations that it carried out a sarin gas attack last August that killed hundreds of people. Moscow and the government alleged that forces linked to the rebels were responsible.
After the United States threatened air strikes over the incident, Russia proposed a deal under which the Syrian government has been surrendering its declared chemical weapons materials for destruction.
The Foreign Ministry on April 25 accused rebel supporters of spreading such claims in order to develop a pretext for foreign military intervention in the Syrian war.
France and the United States have recently alleged that President Bashar al-Assad's forces could have used chlorine gas in attacks targeting rebel areas this month. There have been calls for an international investigation.
Russia, a longtime Syrian government ally, earlier defended the regime against allegations that it carried out a sarin gas attack last August that killed hundreds of people. Moscow and the government alleged that forces linked to the rebels were responsible.
After the United States threatened air strikes over the incident, Russia proposed a deal under which the Syrian government has been surrendering its declared chemical weapons materials for destruction.
