British foreign secretary cancels Moscow visit

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has cancelled a visit to Moscow in light of recent developments in Syria, including Tuesday's deadly chemical attack by the Assad regime, a government statement said Saturday.

The statement said “developments in Syria have changed the situation fundamentally,” and the foreign secretary will prioritize contacting U.S. and other officials ahead of the G7 meeting set for April 10-11 “to build coordinated international support for a cease-fire on the ground and an intensified political process.”

“I discussed these plans in detail with" U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who "will visit Moscow as planned and, following the G7 meeting, will be able to deliver that clear and co-ordinated message to the Russians,” Johnson said.

Also criticizing Russia’s support for the Assad regime, Johnson called on Russia to work with the international community and towards a political settlement in Syria.

He said: “We deplore Russia’s continued defence of the Assad regime even after the chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. We call on Russia to do everything possible to bring about a political settlement in Syria and work with the rest of the international community to ensure that the shocking events of the last week are never repeated.”

Britain's top diplomat was invited to visit Moscow by Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov, and a government statement had said Johnson would visit his counterpart on April 10.

On Tuesday some 100 civilians were reportedly killed and 500 others -- mostly children -- were injured by an Assad regime chemical weapons attack in the town of Khan Shaykhun, Idlib province.

Early Friday the U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military air base American officials believe was used to carry out the attack.