Kerry says US-Russia deal on Syria chlorine attacks probe to bring justice to perpetrators

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he hopes an agreement reached with Russia to investigate chemical weapons attacks in Syria will hold the perpetrators accountable.

Speaking Thursday in Malaysia, Kerry said he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had agreed Wednesday to language of a new U.N. Security Council resolution that would create an investigative mechanism to determine who is responsible for chemical attacks. The current process does not allow investigators to make a finding of accountability.

While Russia and the United States have failed to agree on a way to end the Syrian conflict, they did agree on eliminating its declared chemical weapons stockpile. The U.S. has been pressing the Security Council to ensure accountability for an increasing number of alleged chlorine attacks.