G7 foreign ministers issue joint statement urging Russia,Syria to act on Syria

G7 nations have rejected a call by Britain for sanctions against Russia in the wake of a deadly chemical attack. They say the attack was carried out by Moscow's ally, Syria. Italy's Foreign Minister said the group did not want to back Russia into a corner and preferred dialogue. 

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is now heading from the G7 meeting in Italy to talks in Moscow. He insisted Syria's President could not play a part in the country's future. Mr Tillerson will meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow but it is unclear whether he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. 

Today Mr. Putin called for the UN to hold an independent investigation into the



chemical attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun that left 89 people dead. Syria denied carrying out the chemical attack but the US then carried out a retaliatory strike, firing 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano - hosting the G7 talks in the city of Lucca - said ministers wanted to engage with Russia to put pressure on President Bashar al-Assad. 

Mr Tillerson said the US retaliatory strike was necessary as a matter of US national security interest. He also added that the US saw no further role for the Assad regime longer term, given that they have effectively given up their legitimacy with these kinds of attacks.