White House accuses Russia of Syria chemical attack 'cover up'WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s administration accused Russia on Tuesday of trying to shield Syria’s government from blame for a deadly gas attack, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson brought a Western message to Moscow condemning its support for President Bashar al-Assad. Trump, who has faced criticism for lacking a broader strategy to deal with the Syria crisis, insisted he has no plans to “go into” the war-torn country. Senior White House officials, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said Assad’s government carried out the April 4 sarin nerve gas attack on civilians in Syria’s Idlib province that killed 87 people, including many children, to put pressure on rebels making advances in the area. Russia has defended the Syrian leader against U.S. allegations that his forces carried out the attack, saying there was no evidence. Russia has blamed Syrian rebels. * COMMENTARY: Why Assad used chemical weapons  reut.rs/2o5FMEV * COMMENTARY: The worrying lessons of the Syria chemical attack reut.rs/2o6r55r “It’s clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened there,” one White House official said. White House spokesman Sean Spicer later told reporters that the facts backed up the U.S. version of events. “Russia is on an island when it comes to its support of Syria or its lack of, frankly, acknowledgment of what happened,” he told reporters. However, at the same briefing, Spicer drew criticism after he sought to underscore the ghastliness of the gas attack by saying: “You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” Nazi Germany used gas chambers to kill millions of Jews during the Holocaust. Spicer later apologized and said he should not have made the comparison. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done it and I won’t do it again,” Spicer told CNN in an interview. “It was inappropriate and insensitive.” The White House officials said Russia has frequently offered multiple, conflicting accounts of Syrian government aggression including the incident in the village of Khan Sheikhoun to sow doubt within the international community. The United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield on Thursday to retaliate after the attack. The strikes thrust Trump, who came to power in January calling for warmer ties with Russia, and his administration into confrontation with Moscow. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Trump in a telephone call on Wednesday that “any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable” and urged a political solution for Syria, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said of the telephone exchange. “(We) must persevere with moving towards a political solution for the Syria issue. It is very important that the United Nations Security Council maintains unity on the Syria issue. (I) hope the Security Council can speak with a single voice,” CCTV cited Xi as saying.    Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday she thought Russia knew about the chemical attack in advance. “They didn’t look shocked. They didn’t look surprised. They were so quick to defend. And then the evidence comes out, and we see exactly what it is and we know exactly what the environment was. Then you realize,” she said on CNN. U.S. intelligence indicates that the chemical agent in the attack was delivered by Syrian Su-22 aircraft that took off from the Shayrat airfield, according to a White House report given to reporters. In a four-page document, the White House sought to rebut many of Moscow’s claims about the circumstances of the attack. It said the Syrian planes were in the vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun about 20 minutes before the attack and left shortly afterward. “Additionally, our information indicates personnel historically associated with Syria’s chemical weapons program were at Shayrat airfield in late March making preparations for an upcoming attack in northern Syria, and they were present at the airfield on the day of the attack,” the report said. Washington wants Russia to stop supporting Assad, who has been fighting a six-year-long civil war against mostly Sunni Muslim rebels, also with the backing of Shi’ite Muslim Iran. Tillerson carried a message from world powers to Moscow denouncing Russian support for Assad, as the Trump administration took on America’s traditional mantle as leader of a unified West. Tillerson earlier met foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies and Middle Eastern allies in Italy. They endorsed a joint call for Russia to abandon Assad.         “It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end,” Tillerson told reporters in Italy. “We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad.” He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal in which Assad promised to give up chemical weapons. Russia says the chemicals that killed civilians last week belonged to rebels, not Assad’s government, and accused the United States of an illegal aggression on a false pretext.  Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he believed Washington planned more missile strikes, and that rebels were planning to stage chemical weapons attacks to provoke them.  “We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using” chemical weapons, Putin said. Trump denied further plans in Syria. “We’re not going into Syria,” he said in an interview with the New York Post. “Our policy is the same; it hasn’t changed. We’re not going into Syria.” A senior Trump administration official called Putin’s remarks part of a Russian “disinformation campaign.” The United States, Britain and France have proposed a revised draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council similar to a text they circulated last week pushing Syria’s government to cooperate with investigators.     The secretary of state’s role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing skepticism about the value of U.S. support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow. Tillerson is a former chairman of oil company Exxon Mobil Corp, which has gigantic projects in Russia. Putin awarded him Russia’s “Order of Friendship” in 2013. He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson has no meeting scheduled with Putin this trip, although some Russian media have reported such a meeting could take place.  Western countries have been calling for Assad’s departure since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world’s worst refugee crisis. Assad’s position on the battlefield became far stronger after Russia joined the war to support him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad’s government directly. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday the United States’ military policy in Syria had not changed and remains focused on defeating Islamic State. politicsNews
white house accuses russia syria chemical attack reuters president donald trump administration accused russia tuesday trying shield syria government blame deadly gas attack secretary state rex tillerson brought western message moscow condemning support president basal trump faced criticism lacking broader strategy deal syria crisis insisted plans go country senior white house officials briefing reporters condition anonymity said assad government carried april marin nerve gas attack civilians syria dlib province killed people including many children put pressure rebels making advances area russia defended syrian leader allegations forces carried attack saying evidence russia blamed syrian rebels commentary why assad used chemical weapons commentary the worrying lessons syria chemical attack it clear russian trying cover happened one white house official said white house spokesman sean spider later told reporters facts backed version events russia island comes support syria lack frankly acknowledgment happened told reporters however briefing spider drew criticism sought underscore ghastliness gas attack saying you someone despicable hitler even sink using chemical nazi germany used gas chambers kill millions jews holocaust spider later apologized said made comparison it mistake i done i spider told cnn interview it inappropriate the white house officials said russia frequently offered multiple conflicting accounts syrian government aggression including incident village khan sheikhoun sow doubt within international community the united states launched cruise missiles syrian airfield thursday retaliate attack the strikes thrust trump came power january calling warmer ties russia administration confrontation moscow chinese president xi winning told trump telephone call wednesday use chemical weapons unacceptable urged political solution syria chinese state broadcaster ctv said telephone exchange we must persevere moving towards political solution syria issue it important united nations security council maintains unity syria issue i hope security council speak single voice ctv cited xi saying trump ambassador united nations nikki harley said tuesday thought russia knew chemical attack advance they look shocked they look surprised they quick defend and evidence comes see exactly know exactly environment then realize said cnn intelligence indicates chemical agent attack delivered syrian aircraft took bharat airfield according white house report given reporters in document white house sought debut many moscow claims circumstances attack it said syrian planes vicinity khan sheikhoun minutes attack left shortly afterward additionally information indicates personnel historically associated syria chemical weapons program bharat airfield late march making preparations upcoming attack northern syria present airfield day attack report said washington wants russia stop supporting assad fighting civil war mostly sunny muslim rebels also backing shi ite muslim iran tillerson carried message world powers moscow denouncing russian support assad trump administration took america traditional mantle leader unified west tillerson earlier met foreign ministers group seven advanced economies middle eastern allies italy they endorsed joint call russia abandon assad it clear us reign assad family coming end tillerson told reporters italy we hope russian government concludes aligned unreliable partner basal he said russia failed role sponsor deal assad promised give chemical weapons russia says chemicals killed civilians last week belonged rebels assad government accused united states illegal aggression false pretext russian president vladimir putin said tuesday believed washington planned missile strikes rebels planning stage chemical weapons attacks provoke we information similar provocation prepared parts syria including southern damascus suburbs planning plant substance accuse syrian authorities using chemical weapons putin said trump denied plans syria we going syria said interview new york post our policy changed we going a senior trump administration official called putin remarks part russian disinformation the united states britain france proposed revised draft resolution security council similar text circulated last week pushing syria government cooperate investigators the secretary state role messenger united position turning point trump past alarmed allies voicing skepticism value support traditional friends calling closer ties moscow tillerson former chairman oil company exon mobil corp gigantic projects russia putin awarded russia order friendship he due meet russian foreign minister series lvaro moscow wednesday the kremlin said tillerson meeting scheduled putin trip although russian media reported meeting could take place western countries calling assad departure since start civil war killed least people created world worst refugee crisis assad position battlefield became far stronger russia joined war support the united states allies conducting air strikes syria islamic state last week washington avoided targeting forces assad government directly defense secretary jim mantis said tuesday united states military policy syria changed remains focused defeating islamic state politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: White House accuses Russia of Syria chemical attack 'cover up'WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s administration accused Russia on Tuesday of trying to shield Syria’s government from blame for a deadly gas attack, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson brought a Western message to Moscow condemning its support for President Bashar al-Assad. Trump, who has faced criticism for lacking a broader strategy to deal with the Syria crisis, insisted he has no plans to “go into” the war-torn country. Senior White House officials, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said Assad’s government carried out the April 4 sarin nerve gas attack on civilians in Syria’s Idlib province that killed 87 people, including many children, to put pressure on rebels making advances in the area. Russia has defended the Syrian leader against U.S. allegations that his forces carried out the attack, saying there was no evidence. Russia has blamed Syrian rebels. * COMMENTARY: Why Assad used chemical weapons  reut.rs/2o5FMEV * COMMENTARY: The worrying lessons of the Syria chemical attack reut.rs/2o6r55r “It’s clear that the Russians are trying to cover up what happened there,” one White House official said. White House spokesman Sean Spicer later told reporters that the facts backed up the U.S. version of events. “Russia is on an island when it comes to its support of Syria or its lack of, frankly, acknowledgment of what happened,” he told reporters. However, at the same briefing, Spicer drew criticism after he sought to underscore the ghastliness of the gas attack by saying: “You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” Nazi Germany used gas chambers to kill millions of Jews during the Holocaust. Spicer later apologized and said he should not have made the comparison. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done it and I won’t do it again,” Spicer told CNN in an interview. “It was inappropriate and insensitive.” The White House officials said Russia has frequently offered multiple, conflicting accounts of Syrian government aggression including the incident in the village of Khan Sheikhoun to sow doubt within the international community. The United States launched 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield on Thursday to retaliate after the attack. The strikes thrust Trump, who came to power in January calling for warmer ties with Russia, and his administration into confrontation with Moscow. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Trump in a telephone call on Wednesday that “any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable” and urged a political solution for Syria, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said of the telephone exchange. “(We) must persevere with moving towards a political solution for the Syria issue. It is very important that the United Nations Security Council maintains unity on the Syria issue. (I) hope the Security Council can speak with a single voice,” CCTV cited Xi as saying.    Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday she thought Russia knew about the chemical attack in advance. “They didn’t look shocked. They didn’t look surprised. They were so quick to defend. And then the evidence comes out, and we see exactly what it is and we know exactly what the environment was. Then you realize,” she said on CNN. U.S. intelligence indicates that the chemical agent in the attack was delivered by Syrian Su-22 aircraft that took off from the Shayrat airfield, according to a White House report given to reporters. In a four-page document, the White House sought to rebut many of Moscow’s claims about the circumstances of the attack. It said the Syrian planes were in the vicinity of Khan Sheikhoun about 20 minutes before the attack and left shortly afterward. “Additionally, our information indicates personnel historically associated with Syria’s chemical weapons program were at Shayrat airfield in late March making preparations for an upcoming attack in northern Syria, and they were present at the airfield on the day of the attack,” the report said. Washington wants Russia to stop supporting Assad, who has been fighting a six-year-long civil war against mostly Sunni Muslim rebels, also with the backing of Shi’ite Muslim Iran. Tillerson carried a message from world powers to Moscow denouncing Russian support for Assad, as the Trump administration took on America’s traditional mantle as leader of a unified West. Tillerson earlier met foreign ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies and Middle Eastern allies in Italy. They endorsed a joint call for Russia to abandon Assad.         “It is clear to us the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end,” Tillerson told reporters in Italy. “We hope that the Russian government concludes that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad.” He said Russia had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal in which Assad promised to give up chemical weapons. Russia says the chemicals that killed civilians last week belonged to rebels, not Assad’s government, and accused the United States of an illegal aggression on a false pretext.  Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he believed Washington planned more missile strikes, and that rebels were planning to stage chemical weapons attacks to provoke them.  “We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared ... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using” chemical weapons, Putin said. Trump denied further plans in Syria. “We’re not going into Syria,” he said in an interview with the New York Post. “Our policy is the same; it hasn’t changed. We’re not going into Syria.” A senior Trump administration official called Putin’s remarks part of a Russian “disinformation campaign.” The United States, Britain and France have proposed a revised draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council similar to a text they circulated last week pushing Syria’s government to cooperate with investigators.     The secretary of state’s role as messenger for a united G7 position is a turning point for Trump, who in the past alarmed allies by voicing skepticism about the value of U.S. support for traditional friends, while calling for closer ties with Moscow. Tillerson is a former chairman of oil company Exxon Mobil Corp, which has gigantic projects in Russia. Putin awarded him Russia’s “Order of Friendship” in 2013. He is due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. The Kremlin has said Tillerson has no meeting scheduled with Putin this trip, although some Russian media have reported such a meeting could take place.  Western countries have been calling for Assad’s departure since 2011, the start of a civil war that has killed at least 400,000 people and created the world’s worst refugee crisis. Assad’s position on the battlefield became far stronger after Russia joined the war to support him in 2015. The United States and its allies are conducting air strikes in Syria against Islamic State, but until last week Washington had avoided targeting forces of Assad’s government directly. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday the United States’ military policy in Syria had not changed and remains focused on defeating Islamic State. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: white house accuses russia syria chemical attack reuters president donald trump administration accused russia tuesday trying shield syria government blame deadly gas attack secretary state rex tillerson brought western message moscow condemning support president basal trump faced criticism lacking broader strategy deal syria crisis insisted plans go country senior white house officials briefing reporters condition anonymity said assad government carried april marin nerve gas attack civilians syria dlib province killed people including many children put pressure rebels making advances area russia defended syrian leader allegations forces carried attack saying evidence russia blamed syrian rebels commentary why assad used chemical weapons commentary the worrying lessons syria chemical attack it clear russian trying cover happened one white house official said white house spokesman sean spider later told reporters facts backed version events russia island comes support syria lack frankly acknowledgment happened told reporters however briefing spider drew criticism sought underscore ghastliness gas attack saying you someone despicable hitler even sink using chemical nazi germany used gas chambers kill millions jews holocaust spider later apologized said made comparison it mistake i done i spider told cnn interview it inappropriate the white house officials said russia frequently offered multiple conflicting accounts syrian government aggression including incident village khan sheikhoun sow doubt within international community the united states launched cruise missiles syrian airfield thursday retaliate attack the strikes thrust trump came power january calling warmer ties russia administration confrontation moscow chinese president xi winning told trump telephone call wednesday use chemical weapons unacceptable urged political solution syria chinese state broadcaster ctv said telephone exchange we must persevere moving towards political solution syria issue it important united nations security council maintains unity syria issue i hope security council speak single voice ctv cited xi saying trump ambassador united nations nikki harley said tuesday thought russia knew chemical attack advance they look shocked they look surprised they quick defend and evidence comes see exactly know exactly environment then realize said cnn intelligence indicates chemical agent attack delivered syrian aircraft took bharat airfield according white house report given reporters in document white house sought debut many moscow claims circumstances attack it said syrian planes vicinity khan sheikhoun minutes attack left shortly afterward additionally information indicates personnel historically associated syria chemical weapons program bharat airfield late march making preparations upcoming attack northern syria present airfield day attack report said washington wants russia stop supporting assad fighting civil war mostly sunny muslim rebels also backing shi ite muslim iran tillerson carried message world powers moscow denouncing russian support assad trump administration took america traditional mantle leader unified west tillerson earlier met foreign ministers group seven advanced economies middle eastern allies italy they endorsed joint call russia abandon assad it clear us reign assad family coming end tillerson told reporters italy we hope russian government concludes aligned unreliable partner basal he said russia failed role sponsor deal assad promised give chemical weapons russia says chemicals killed civilians last week belonged rebels assad government accused united states illegal aggression false pretext russian president vladimir putin said tuesday believed washington planned missile strikes rebels planning stage chemical weapons attacks provoke we information similar provocation prepared parts syria including southern damascus suburbs planning plant substance accuse syrian authorities using chemical weapons putin said trump denied plans syria we going syria said interview new york post our policy changed we going a senior trump administration official called putin remarks part russian disinformation the united states britain france proposed revised draft resolution security council similar text circulated last week pushing syria government cooperate investigators the secretary state role messenger united position turning point trump past alarmed allies voicing skepticism value support traditional friends calling closer ties moscow tillerson former chairman oil company exon mobil corp gigantic projects russia putin awarded russia order friendship he due meet russian foreign minister series lvaro moscow wednesday the kremlin said tillerson meeting scheduled putin trip although russian media reported meeting could take place western countries calling assad departure since start civil war killed least people created world worst refugee crisis assad position battlefield became far stronger russia joined war support the united states allies conducting air strikes syria islamic state last week washington avoided targeting forces assad government directly defense secretary jim mantis said tuesday united states military policy syria changed remains focused defeating islamic state politicsnews