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Lavrov Says Russia Can Deliver Evidence of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow is considering delivering samples of chemical weapons allegedly used by rebels in Aleppo to The Hague for examination by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

"Unfortunately, apparently, under strong pressure from our colleagues, the leadership of this technical organization refused to comply with such a request, citing security concerns. We are, as far as I know from colleagues in the Defense Ministry, working on the possibility of delivering collected samples to The Hague and the OPCW," Lavrov said, according to the TASS news agency.

Earlier, experts from the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have identified samples of chlorine gas and white phosphorus, allegedly used by rebels in southwest Aleppo. The Syrian government, which is supported by Russia, has also been accused of using various chemical weapons against the rebels on several occasions. 

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