Protesters have marched on Downing Street demanding the government step back from the brink of an attack on Syria – as Jeremy Corbyn still refuses to say he believes Assad is behind the chemical attacks that killed up to 80.
The Labour leader today again refused to point the finger at the Syrian regime over the latest chemical weapons atrocity – and would not even rule out Moscow’s claims that it was staged by Western-backed rebels.
It comes as Stop The War campaigners have congregated along Whitehall to protest any planned attacks by Theresa May’s government, in coalition with the U.S and France.
The Labour leader risked opening a fresh schism with his own MPs by repeatedly declining to say that evidence implicated the Russian-backed Assad regime
Protesters appear in a heated discussion with a police officer outside of Downing Street demanding the government back down from any possible military action on Syria
Stop The War campaigners march on Whitehall ahead of what appears an increasingly likely attack on Assad’s Syria
The Labour leader risked opening a fresh schism with his own MPs by repeatedly declining to say the evidence implicates the Russian-backed Assad regime.
And asked about the Kremlin’s outlandish claims about the attack being staged by rebels Mr Corbyn would not dismiss the idea outright.
The comments, in a pooled broadcast interview, came as the veteran left-winger again insisted he would not back UK involvement in any military reprisals after hundreds of people in Douma were apparently targeted with poison gas on Saturday.
It comes as protesters have congregated outside of Downing Street, demanding the government step back from the brink of an attack on Assad’s forces in Syria
A protester is arrested at the Stop The War Coalition demonstration against armed intervention by the UK in the Syrian conflict
Police arrested a man who appeared to try to hide beneath a squad car
A police officer is pictured directing campaigners from the Stop the War Coalition
Earlier, Diane Abbott struggled to say whether Russia or the US was a bigger threat to world peace.
The shadow home secretary was pressed three times to choose between the two powers during a bruising interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
After initially saying the ‘current situation in Syria’ was the biggest threat to world peace, Ms Abbott finally plumped for Russia.
Mr Corbyn accused the premier of taking ‘instructions’ from Mr Trump.
Despite years of negotiations coming to deadlock, with Russia, Iran and Turkey all deeply involved in the country’s civil war, the Labour leader called for the ‘withdrawal of all foreign forces’.
He demanded the government focus on pushing for a UN investigation into who carried out the attack – even though Russia vetoed the idea at the security council this week.
The U.S. has maintained its threat of rocket attacks in response to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s sickening chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday
Theresa May, pictured unveiling a war memorial in Maidenhead today, has said there is no other plausible explanation apart from Russian involvement in the Salisbury attack
The World Health Organisation has said it believes 500 people were affected by the apparent attack in Douma.
The US and France say they have blood and urine samples that have tested positive for chlorine and nerve agent.
But Mr Corbyn, who is receiving an intelligence briefing from the UK authorities on the Syria situation tonight, would not even concede that the evidence pointed strongly at Assad.
‘If there’s proof the Syrian regime did then they must be held responsible, if there’s proof that anybody else did it they must be held responsible,’ he said.
‘I want to know who did it, and I think it’s best to know who did it than to speculate.’
Pressed repeatedly on whether he thought the Syrian regime was implicated, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Obliviously those who have actually done it should be held responsible for it obviously there has to be an inquiry to ascertain who actually did it….
‘It is up to the UN to investigate who actually committee this atrocity….
When it was put to him that he appeared to have doubts about whether Assad was responsible, Mr Corbyn said: ‘It up to us to obviously condemn and do everything we can to bring about a ceasefire and a political solution… I want to know who did it.’
He added: ‘If there is proof the regime did it they must be held responsible, again if there is proof anybody else did it they must be held responsible.’
Asked if there was a ‘possibility that it was a fabrication’, Mr Corbyn said evasively: ‘I have never used that word.’
Told that Russia was blaming the White Helmets – although Moscow has also claimed there were no chemicals at the site at all – Mr Corbyn replied: ‘Well let’s not run into the realms of speculation of that sort…
‘I have no evidence on that and if they have evidence they have got to bring it forward, which is why I would say very strongly the US and Russia have got to stop blocking each other’s resolutions at the UN.’
It came after Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, suggested the humanitarian group the White Helmets had staged the attack.
He said: ‘The White Helmets are supported by the British government – they are giving them money.
‘And they are famous for staging fake chemical attacks, that’s exactly what happened in Khan Shaykhun.
‘So this what they are famous for, that’s why I mention them
‘Of course as I said they are responsible for the information – for sharing this kind of information through social media and he press.’
An F15 jet takes off from RAF Lakenheath today as preparations for military action geared up
Russian ambassador to London Alexander Yakovenko made a series out outlandish conspiracy theory claims at a press conference today