British PM 'appalled' at Russian veto on Syria

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday criticised as "appalling" Russia's veto on a UN resolution for setting up an international investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria.

"I'm appalled by that but I'm not surprised," she said.

Russia on Tuesday vetoed a US-backed motion which would have re-established an international Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) to probe chemical strikes in Syria and identify culprits.

Washington also dismissed a Russian motion relating to the alleged chemical attack in the rebel-held city of Douma on Saturday.

"We've been working with our allies and partners and we're rapidly reaching an understanding of what happened on the ground. All the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible.

"The use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged... We will be working with our closest allies on how we can ensure that those who are responsible are taken to account," May said.

US President Donald Trump has warned that "missiles will be coming" in response to the suspected chemical atrocity. Russia has scrambled to deflect blame from its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.

May, Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Tuesday to discuss the international community's response to the attack.