Following missile strikes, inspectors press to visit Syrian gas attack site

Chemical weapons inspectors have been delayed access to the site of a suspected chemical attack in Syria, according to British and Russian officials, Reuters reported.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ inspection team arrived in Damascus on Saturday and planned to go to the site of the alleged chemical attack, the Damascus suburb of Douma, on Monday.

Even though the United Nations had cleared for the inspectors to access the site, they were unable to go to Douma because Syria and Russia couldn’t guarantee their safety, Reuters reported.

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The British government is pressuring Russia and Syria to cooperate with the inspection while Russia said the delay was caused by recent missile strikes carried out by the U.S. and its allies.

The U.S. envoy to the chemical weapons watchdog said it is concerned Russia might have tampered with the site of the chemical weapon attack.

Earlier this month, a chemical weapon attack in Douma, largely believed to have been carried out by the Syrian government, killed more than 40 people.

The U.S., U.K. and France launched missile strikes targeting three chemical weapons facilities in Syria on Friday.