Chemicals that killed civilians in northern Syria came from rebel weapons: Russia

Russian claims that a release of chemicals that killed and injured dozens of civilians in northern Syria came from rebel weapons on the ground have been rejected.

Britain’s foreign secretary, a rebel commander and a weapons expert all said the evidence pointed to an attack by Syrian government forces.

Damascus denies its forces launched a chemical weapons attack.

The issue is overshadowing a conference on Syria in Brussels.

Seventy donor nations are discussing aid efforts in the war-ravaged country.

The United Nations Security Council is due to hold emergency talks later following the release of gas in Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province which – according to UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – killed 72 people, including 20 children.