Chemical attack in Syria

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms the chemical attack on April 4 in rebel-held north-western Syria has killed some 70 civilians (mostly children) and left many others sick. The incident is outrageous and must be condemned by all. The US has blamed Damascus for the attack while the Assad regime has denied it. The Russians have denied that any of its military aircraft were involved in the strike and although the Russians have been fighting alongside Assad in the Syrian civil war, a Russian Ministry of Defence spokesman stated that the Syrian Air Force has destroyed a warehouse in Idlib province where chemical weapons were being produced and stockpiled before being shipped to Iraq.

All in all, a very confusing situation, and we are yet to ascertain as to who exactly carried out the strike and how so many civilians are now dead and many more suffering from the toxic attack. 

One thing is certain though; this latest atrocity will do nothing to help the peace talks brokered by the UN, which has been going on for some time now. In its 6th year now, the Syrian civil war has killed more than 320,000 people and left millions shelter-less and indeed, state-less. It is time to take stock of the war which has now entered a very dangerous phase. If protagonists start to use chemical weapons in this conflict, we can expect casualties to grow exponentially. The war has been steadily fought to a relative stalemate with neither side strong enough to overpower the other. Is it not time we gave peace a chance?