INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia has repeatedly accused rebels of staging or spreading rumours of chemical attacks
Eastern Ghouta was staged on orders from London.Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the military had "proof that
testifies to the direct participation of Britain in the organising of this provocation in Eastern Ghouta."He said Britain had told the White
Helmets, who act as first responders in rebel-held areas, to fake the suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma.London put "powerful
pressure" on the civil defence organisation, Konashenkov said.He said the attack was staged on April 7 to coincide with military action by
Syrian government forces, after the rebel group Jaish al-Islam that long controlled Eastern Ghouta carried out shelling of Damascus from
April 3 to 6.Russia has repeatedly accused rebels of staging or spreading rumours of chemical attacks, but the involvement of Britain is a
new claim.It comes as London has blamed Moscow for a nerve agent attack on a former double agent and his daughter in the English city of
Salisbury last month.In March Russia's General Staff said that rebels were planning a "provocation" in Eastern Ghouta with women and
children set to play victims of a chemical attack.President Vladimir Putin later referred to this claim, saying on April 4 that Russia had
"irrefutable proof" that rebels were planning an attack with "poisonous substances".
