Spy poisoning: Global support for UK as PM visits Salisbury
Theresa May, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump want Russia to "address all questions" over the use of a nerve agent.
Friday 16 March 2018 06:37, UK
The Prime Minister has been boosted by international support over Britain's response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
In a rare joint statement, Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump declared there is "no plausible alternative explanation" other than Russia being responsible.
The four leaders described an "assault on UK sovereignty", a "clear violation" of the global prohibition of chemical weapons and a "breach of international law".
Moscow must "address all questions" in relation to the attack and provide "full and complete disclosure" over the production of the Soviet-era novichok nerve agent, they said.
The leaders added: "We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security."
Speaking in the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump said the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, using military-grade novichok, was "something that should never, ever happen".
"We're taking it very seriously," he added.
More than 40 members of the US Congress, both Republican and Democrat, expressed "full support" for Mrs May's expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats, in a letter to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Mr Macron was said to be ready to snub the official Russian stand at the Paris book fair on Thursday in order to show solidarity with the UK.
"This despicable attack will have consequences and the President will act firmly with his partners," a presidential source said.
Amid a threat of Russian retaliation to Britain's action against Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of his security council on the poisoning of Mr Skripal and his daughter.
The Kremlin, who have also described the UK's accusations as "insane", said the council "expressed grave concern over the destructive and provocative position of the British side".
Later, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed both the Soviet Union and Russia "had no programmes" to develop novichok.
The vow of international co-operation came as the clean-up operation after the Salisbury attack centred on the home of the police officer exposed to the nerve agent.
Local residents reported seeing police cover a hatchback car with a silver sheet and loading it on to an Army vehicle in Alderholt, some 11 miles from Salisbury.
Mrs May used her first visit to the Wiltshire city to speak with detective sergeant Nick Bailey as he continues to recover in hospital.
Speaking in Salisbury, the Prime Minister highlighted how international allies "are standing alongside us".
"This happened in the UK but it could have happened anywhere, and we take a united stance against it," she said.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd chaired a meeting of the Government's emergency COBRA committee, while Environment Secretary Michael Gove led a cross-governmental ministerial recovery group looking at support for Salisbury in the aftermath of the attack.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned against the incident leading politicians to "rush way ahead of the evidence being gathered by the police, in a fevered parliamentary atmosphere".
In an article for The Guardian, Mr Corbyn - who has angered his own MPs with an apparent reluctance to directly blame Russia - drew a link between the Salisbury attack and how "flawed intelligence and dodgy dossiers led to the calamity of the Iraq invasion".
As part of a series of measures against Russia, Mrs May has also confirmed there will be no attendance by Government ministers or members of the Royal Family at this summer's World Cup.
England national team manager Gareth Southgate said his players are still preparing to attend the tournament, adding: "There is no doubt in my mind that is what we should be doing."
Asked if the developing response to the Salisbury attack could see the Government lead a boycott of the World Cup, Mr Southgate said: "I think it is a matter that is completely out of my control.
"We are desperate to go to the World Cup. That is really where my remit ends at that matter."
But he added it will be an "individual choice" for England supporters as to whether they travel to Russia in June.