Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Moallem denied on Tuesday that the government carried out chemical weapons attacks, calling US Secretary of State John Kerry’s accusations « categorically false. »
Speaking in Damascus, he said he rejected « utterly and completely » what Kerry had said the previous day.
On Monday, Kerry called the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria « undeniable » and a « moral obscenity, » in the strongest remarks yet from the Obama administration.
Speaking on Monday afternoon, Kerry said the significance of the attack that left hundreds dead went beyond Syria itself. « This is about the large-scale, indiscriminate use of weapons that the civilized world, long ago, decided must never be used at all, » he said.
« What is before us today is real. And it is compelling, » Kerry continued, adding that President Barack Obama was determined to hold Syria accountable.
Kerry accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime of failing to cooperate with chemical weapons inspectors from the UN « at every turn » and destroying evidence of the attack through shelling. « That is not the behavior of a government that has nothing to hide, » Kerry said.
« Our sense of basic humanity is offended, not only by this cowardly crime, but also by the cynical attempt to cover it up, » he added.
Kerry said that the Syrian government’s delayed decision to allow a team of UN inspectors near the site was « too late. »
This article originally was published at Global Post.