Lavrov presents to Kerry evidence of using chemical weapons by rebels near Damascus

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has presented to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry the evidence confirming the involvement of the Syrian opposition in the August 21 chemical attack in a suburb of Damascus. The RF foreign minister made this statement in an interview with The Washington Post published on Thursday. Asked whether Russia was still saying that it was the rebels who fired the chemical weapons on August 21 — not the Assad regime, Lavrov said, “Yes, we believe there is very good evidence to substantiate this.” The Russian Foreign Minister added: “I just presented a compilation of evidence to John Kerry when we met a couple of hours ago (in New York). This evidence is not something revolutionary. It’s available on the Internet.” According to Lavrov, the evidence includes reports of journalists who visited the scene, and had talked with the militants, who said they received unusual rockets and ammunition from abroad and didn't know how to use them. There is also evidence from monastery nuns, who were near the chemical attack site, the Russian Foreign Minister said.