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G-7 ministers reject British call for sanctions on Russia

Published:Tuesday | April 11, 2017 | 11:46 AM
From Left: German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini; Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Boris Johnson and Italian Foreign Minister, Angelino Alfano, take a stroll in the centre of Lucca, Italy, on April 10.

G-7 nations have failed to agree on a proposal by Britain for sanctions against Russia in the wake of a deadly chemical attack they say was carried out by Moscow's ally, Syria.

Italy's foreign minister said the group did not want to blame Russia and preferred dialogue.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has moved on from the G-7 meeting in Italy and has arrived in Moscow for talks.

He insisted Syria's president could not play a part in the country's future.

The G-7 meeting in the Italian city of Lucca followed last week's chemical attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun that left 89 people dead.

The Turkish health ministry today confirmed that the nerve agent, sarin, had been used.

Syria denied the attack but the US then carried out a retaliatory strike, firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.