Syrian government to blame for April Sarin attack: UN report

TheSyriangovernmentof Bashar al-Assad is toblamefor a chemical attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhounthat killed dozens of people last April, according to areportsent to theUnited Nations Security Council on Thursday.

"TheSyrianArab Republic is responsible for the release ofsarinat Khan Sheikhounon 4April 2017," thereportfrom the UNand the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) said.

The attack prompted a USmissile strike against aSyrianair base which Washington said was used to launch the strike.

"Time and again, we see independent confirmation of chemical weapons use by the Assad regime," Nikki Haley, theUnited States' UNambassador, said in a statement.

"The Security Council must send a clear message that the use of chemical weapons by anyone will not be tolerated, and must fully support the work of the impartial investigators."

Thereportalso said ISIS was toblamefor the use of sulphur mustard in theSyriantown of Umm Hawsh on Sept. 15 and 16, 2016.

The JIM wasunanimously created by the 15-member UNSecurity Council in 2015 and renewed in 2016 for another year. Its mandate is due to expire in mid-November, and Russia on Tuesday vetoed a proposal to further extend its mandate.

Russian ambassador to the UNVassily Nebenzia said earlier this week Russia would consider revisiting the mandate extension after Thursday'sreportis discussed.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China hopes that the conclusions of any investigation have a basis inconclusive proof and are professional, objective and fair.

"The continuing use of chemical weapons, including by non-State actors, is deeply disturbing," said thereport.

"If such use, in spite of the prohibition by the international community, is not stopped now, a lack of consequences will surely encourage others to follow."

The JIM has already foundSyriangovernmentforces were responsible for three chlorine gas attacks in 2014 and 2015.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States. TheSyriangovernmenthas repeatedly denied using chemical weapons during the country's more than six-year civil war.