This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-accused-hysteria-boris-johnson-protest-london-embassy-kremlin-syria-a7357091.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Russia condemns Boris Johnson’s call for protests outside London embassy as ‘Russophobic hysteria’ | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Russian government has accused Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson of trying to whip up “hysteria” after he urged people to protest outside of the country’s embassy having accused Moscow of a role in the bombing of an aid convoy in Syria. | |
Russian defence ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Mr Johnson’s accusations were “a storm in a glass of muddy London water” and insisted none of his country’s aircraft were in the area at the time of the attack. | |
He said the “Russophobic hysteria of certain members of the British establishment is no longer impressive”, according to RT, a television network funded by the Russian government, while the country’s embassy in London claimed MPs were on the “wrong side of history” over the Syria conflict on Tuesday. | |
Mr Johnson told the Commons on Tuesday that all the evidence pointed to Russian aircraft being involved in the September 19 attack on the aid convoy. | Mr Johnson told the Commons on Tuesday that all the evidence pointed to Russian aircraft being involved in the September 19 attack on the aid convoy. |
"The incident took place after dark; by Russia's own account, the war planes of Syria's regime cannot strike targets after dark, and - also by Russia's own account - its aircraft were in the vicinity at the time. All the available evidence therefore points to Russian responsibility for the atrocity," he told MPs. | "The incident took place after dark; by Russia's own account, the war planes of Syria's regime cannot strike targets after dark, and - also by Russia's own account - its aircraft were in the vicinity at the time. All the available evidence therefore points to Russian responsibility for the atrocity," he told MPs. |
But the Kremlin-backed Sputnik news agency reported that Mr Konashenkov said: “No Russian aircraft were in the area of the humanitarian convoy in Aleppo. | |
“It’s a fact. And all the ‘alleged’ evidence ... will not be worth a penny, if someone is really given access to them.” | |
The Russian embassy said the Commons debate was “depressing” and added: “The speeches of those who participated in the discussion contradict the logic of all previous decisions of the International Syria Support Group as well as UN Security Council resolutions.” | |
A statement by the embassy’s press secretary added: “Syria is going through the hard process of defeating terrorists. | |
“Pity that the British parliamentarians placed themselves on the wrong side of history this time.” | |
Press Association | Press Association |
Previous version
1
Next version