Sputnik - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement called on the member states of the Security Council to come to an agreement on establishing a mechanism for holding accountable those who use chemical weapons.




"Any use of�chemical weapons is abhorrent. The suffering it causes is horrendous. I have repeatedly expressed my deep disappointment that the Security Council failed to�agree on�a dedicated mechanism for�effective accountability for�the use of�chemical weapons in�Syria," Guterres said on�Friday after�the US, France, and the UK attacked the Syrian government. "I urge the Security Council to�assume its responsibilities and fill this gap. I will continue to�engage with�Member States to�help achieve this objective."

He also called on�all countries of�the Security Council to�avoid any actions that could worsen the situation in�Syria.

"I call on�the members of�the Security Council to�unite and exercise that responsibility," Guterres said. "I urge all Member States to�show restraint in�these dangerous circumstances and to�avoid any acts that could escalate the situation and worsen the suffering of�the Syrian people."

Guterres said that the Security Council�s main responsibility is to�keep international peace and security.
"I have been following�closely the reports of�air strikes in�Syria conducted by�the United States, France and the United Kingdom. There�s an obligation, particularly when dealing with�matters of�peace and security, to�act consistently with�the Charter of�the United Nations and with�international law in�general," Guterres said. "The UN Charter is very clear on�these issues. The Security Council has primary responsibility for�the maintenance of�international peace and security."