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Russia spy: Allies condemn nerve agent attack | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The leaders of France, Germany, the US and UK have issued a statement on the nerve agent attack in the UK, saying there is "no plausible alternative explanation" to Russian responsibility. | |
They condemned the "first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War", calling it an assault on UK sovereignty. | |
The UK has expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the wake of the incident. | The UK has expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the wake of the incident. |
PM Theresa May on Thursday visited the site of the attack in Wiltshire. | PM Theresa May on Thursday visited the site of the attack in Wiltshire. |
"We do hold Russia culpable for this brazen, brazen act and despicable act," she said. | "We do hold Russia culpable for this brazen, brazen act and despicable act," she said. |
Russia has denied any involvement in the attack. It has vowed a swift response to the expulsion of its diplomats. | |
The nerve agent was used on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury. Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical condition in hospital. | |
The joint statement said the four nations "abhor the attack". | |
It said: "It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all." | |
The nations urged Russia to "address all questions related to the attack" and provide all details about the nerve agent used. | |
It added: "Our concerns are also heightened against the background of a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behaviour. | |
"We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security." |