Muslim bloc urges 'decisive action' against Damascus

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday condemned alleged poison gas attacks in Syria, blaming the government and calling for "decisive action" in response. The world's largest grouping of Muslim nations "stressed the need to hold the Syrian government legally and morally accountable for this heinous crime and to bring its perpetrators to justice". The OIC called on the UN "Security Council to discharge its duty of preserving international security and stability, taking a unified position against this monstrous crime and its perpetrators. "This attack is a blatant affront to all religious and moral values and a deliberate disregard of international laws and norms, which requires a decisive action," it said in a statement. OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said he "remains convinced of the need to urgently work out a political solution to extricate Syria from this bloody crisis and to restore peace and security in the country."