UN chief urges unity on Syria

The United Nations chief is calling on members of the UN Security
Council to act "responsibly" regarding the recent alleged chemical
weapons use in Syria.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres instructed the body to create an
investigation team, warning a lack of compromise could lead to a "full
blown military escalation."

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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TAKE VO
On the fourth day this week of emergency Syria meetings, the UN chief
was like a weary parent admonishing his children. Antonio Guterres
expressed not his anger, but his disappointment that the Security
Council can not agree to work together.

SOT - Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General: "I urge all members to
act responsibly in these dangerous circumstances, and I appeal to the
Security Council to fulfill its duties and not give up on efforts to
agree upon a dedicated, impartial, objective and independent mechanism
for attributing responsibility with regard to the use of chemical
weapons"

TAKE VO
The US accused Syria of using chemical weapons at least 50 times.
While Russia accused western nations of orchestrating a regime change.
TAKE VO
And away from the meeting Russia's defence ministry blamed the UK for
faking the chemical weapons attack on Douma. Here's Spokesman for
Russia Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov.

SOT - Major-General Igor Konashenkov, Spokesman for Russia Defense
Ministry: "Today Russian military department has other evidence that
proves direct participation of Britain in organising this provocation
in eastern Ghouta."

TAKE VO
Back at the UN, the UK's ambassador Karen Pierce said that was flatly false.

SOT - Karen Pierce, UK ambassador to the UN: "This is grotesque, it is
a blatant lie, it is some of the worst piece of fake news we've yet
seen from the Russia propaganda machine."

TAKE VO
Images from the attack on the Damascus suburb last weekend provoked an
international outcry - and calls for the UN to investigate.
But a previous chemical weapons investigation team was disbanded last
November after Russia refused to renew its mandate. And forming a new
one is proving controversial.
Three proposals were voted down by the Council earlier this week.
Sweden has now put forward a fourth resolution to create an
investigation team. No word on when the Council will vote - but fears
are it will suffer the same fate as the other three vetoed
resolutions.
SOC
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