Russia denies sending chemical weapons to Syria

Syria has no Russian-made chemical weapons stockpile, Deputy Director of the Federal Agency for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons Col. Vladimir Mandych said on Tuesday. "Syria is one of the countries that did not sign the chemical weapons convention As far as I know, no Russian-made chemical weapons have ever been supplied to Syria," Mandych told journalists. US President Barack Obama said on Monday Syria’s chemical weapons would be a "red line" that would change Washington’s stance on a foreign military intervention into the Syrian conflict, Russian news agency (RIA Novosti) reported. He said that "at this point" he had "not ordered military engagement." The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in late July that Syria may use chemical weapons against external aggression as the West pushes for a possible military intervention in the country torn by violent clashes between troops loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad and opposition forces. The Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons are believed to consist mostly of large amounts of Sarin, in addition to tabun (nerve agents) and mustard gas, and the country is reportedly producing and preparing VX for weapons.