Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that the use of chemical weapons in attacks on civilians in Syria last week was undeniable and that the Obama administration would hold the Syrian government accountable for what he called a “moral obscenity” that had shocked the world’s conscience, news agencies reported Monday.
Mr. Kerry rejected its denial of responsibility for what he called a “cowardly crime,” adding that the “indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity.”
“By any standard, it is inexcusable,” he said. “And despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured, it is undeniable.”
Even though a United Nations team was finally permitted by the Syrian government to investigate starting Monday, he said, the government’s authorization was “too late” to be credible.
“Our sense of basic humanity is offended not only by this cowardly crime but also by the cynical attempt to cover it up,” he said.
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