WEB DESK
Russia has again cast a veto to block a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Russia rejected a Japanese draft resolution to prolong by 30 days the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), whose mandate ended at midnight yesterday.
But Russia used its veto power to prevent the adoption of the resolution after 12 council members voted in favour of the measure.
China abstained, while Bolivia also voted no. It was the 11th time that Russia has used its veto power to stop Security Council action targeting its ally Syria. On Thursday, Russia blocked a US-written draft to extend the JIM’s mandate for a year.
The JIM was set up in 2015 to identify perpetrators of chemical attacks. It is the only official mission investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Moscow strongly criticised the inquiry when it blamed the Syrian government for a deadly nerve agent attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in April, which left more than 80 people dead.