LOC15:24
12:24 GMT
PARIS, April 5 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday called for an "international reaction" to the use of chemical weapons in the Syria conflict and said this reaction must be at the level of this "war crime," official sources said.
The French leader chaired a meeting Wednesday of the Defence and Security Council and discussed the latest use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The Defence and Security Council evaluates both internal and external threats linked to terrorism and particularly examines the situations in Syria and Iraq, where French forces are engaged in the battle against so-called Islamic State (IS).
In the meeting, Hollande "renewed his indignation faced with the use of chemical weapons and called for a reaction from the international community at the level of this war crime," according to statement after the Council discussions.
France, in 2013, mobilised air and sea power to try to eliminate the chemical weapons potential of the Syria regime, which is blamed for the latest attack, but French forces were told to stand down after the United States baulked at striking the Syrian regime and Britain also declined to take part after the London parliament voted against military action.
Hollande has regularly criticised the US and British stance back in 2013, despite a commitment from Syria to eliminated all chemical weapons from its arsenal.
The latest attack took place Tuesday in Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province and is reported to have caused more than 70 deaths, including around 20 children.
France, among other countries, has called on Russia and Iran to rein in the Damascus regime and stop it from carrying out such attacks and also curtail cease-fire violations which jeopardise the ongoing peace process. (end)
jk.mt