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UK attacks Russian support for Syria regime after US airstrikes

The UK government has attacked Russia's role in alliance with the Syria regime as international tensions continue in the aftermath of the suspected chemical attack and retaliatory US airstrikes.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has pulled out of a visit to Moscow saying "we deplore Russia's continued defence of the Assad regime".

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said Russia is responsible for "every civilian death" in Bashar Assad's suspected sarin attack on his own people.

US President Donald Trump has meanwhile written to both chambers of Congress justifying his decision to launch the retaliation strikes.

US senator John McCain has told ITV News the US and its allies must add momentum to Mr Trump's intervention by working to force President Assad out.

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Russia 'to call for urgent UN meeting after US strike'

The US launched 59 tomahawk missiles from its navy destroyers in the Mediterranean. Credit: AP

Russia will call for an urgent UN Security Council meeting in reaction to the US airstrike attack on Syria, the nation's RIA news agency has reported.

RIA cited Viktor Ozerov, the head of the defence committee in Russia's upper house of parliament.

Mr Ozerov also reportedly warned the action could undermine efforts to fight terrorism in the country.

"This (the attack) could be viewed as an act of aggression of the US against a UN nation," he was quoted as saying.

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