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Foreign Secretary Johnson calls off visit to Moscow

Xinhua, April 8, 2017 Adjust font size:

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson announced Saturday he cancelled a planned visit to Moscow to concentrate on the situation in Syria.

Johnson was due to make the journey to the Russian capital on Monday, April 10.

In a statement issued in London by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Johnson said: "Developments in Syria have changed the situation fundamentally. My priority is now to continue contact with the U.S. and others in the run up to the G7 meeting on 10-11 April."

Johnson added he discussed these plans in detail with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"He will visit Moscow as planned and, following the G7 meeting, will be able to deliver that clear and co-ordinated message to the Russians.

"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," said the secretary.

Johnson's decision follows this weeks missile attack on a Syrian government air base in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, with both the U.S. and Britain pointing on the Syrian leadership.

Activists accused the Syrian army of firing toxic gas on the town, killing some 70 people, while the Syrian army said the strike targeted an arm depot containing toxic gas, blaming the rebels for storing such materials.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said earlier that the deadly gas contamination in Idlib was caused by the explosion of chemical weapons produced by the rebels. Endit