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Syria war: Scores dead in Syria gas attack, rescuers and medics say | Syria war: Scores dead in Syria gas attack, rescuers and medics say |
(35 minutes later) | |
Rescuers and medics say at least 70 people have died in Syria after toxic gas was dropped on Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta. | |
Volunteer rescue force the White Helmets tweeted graphic images showing scores of bodies in a basement. It said the death toll is likely to rise. | |
There has been no independent verification of the reports. | There has been no independent verification of the reports. |
Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication". | Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication". |
A tweet - later deleted - by the White Helmets put the number of dead at 150. | |
The US state department said it is monitoring the "very disturbing" reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used. | |
"The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the state department. | |
"Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the brutal targeting of countless Syrians with chemical weapons." | "Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the brutal targeting of countless Syrians with chemical weapons." |
The pro-opposition Ghouta Media Center tweeted that more than a thousand people had suffered the effects of the alleged gas attack. | The pro-opposition Ghouta Media Center tweeted that more than a thousand people had suffered the effects of the alleged gas attack. |
It blamed a barrel bomb allegedly dropped by a helicopter which it said contained sarin, a toxic nerve agent. | It blamed a barrel bomb allegedly dropped by a helicopter which it said contained sarin, a toxic nerve agent. |
Douma is the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region, and is under siege from government forces. | Douma is the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region, and is under siege from government forces. |