INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia has repeatedly accused rebels of staging or spreading rumours of chemical attacks
(AFP)Moscow: The Russian military on Friday said it had proof that an alleged chemical weapons attack in
Syria's Eastern Ghouta was staged on orders from London.Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the military had "proof
that testifies to the direct participation of Britain in the organising of this provocation in Eastern Ghouta."He said Britain had told the
White Helmets, who act as first responders in rebel-held areas, to fake the suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma.London put
"powerful pressure" on the civil defence organisation, Konashenkov said.He said the attack was staged on April 7 to coincide with military
action by Syrian government forces, after the rebel group Jaish al-Islam that long controlled Eastern Ghouta carried out shelling of
Damascus from April 3 to 6.Russia has repeatedly accused rebels of staging or spreading rumours of chemical attacks, but the involvement of
Britain is a new claim.It comes as London has blamed Moscow for a nerve agent attack on a former double agent and his daughter in the
English city of Salisbury last month.In March Russia's General Staff said that rebels were planning a "provocation" in Eastern Ghouta with
women and children set to play victims of a chemical attack.President Vladimir Putin later referred to this claim, saying on April 4 that
Russia had "irrefutable proof" that rebels were planning an attack with "poisonous substances".
