China urges UN focus on militants using poison gas in Syria
BEIJING - China on Thursday urged UN Security Council members to back a draft resolution demanding states report when militants are developing chemical weapons in Syria.
Some diplomats have dismissed the proposed resolution as a bid to distract from accusations the Syrian government uses such weapons.
Russia and China circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member body on Wednesday, which Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said could serve as a deterrent to "terrorist" groups such as Islamic State from using chemical weapons.
Islamic State militants are believed to be responsible for sulfur mustard gas attacks in Syria and Iraq last year, the United States has said. Russia has also said it sees a high probability that Islamic State is using chemical weapons.
