Syria strikes - as it happened: Chemical weapons inspectors have entered Douma, Syrian state media says

Reported granting of access follows claims by France that evidence is likely 'disappearing' from the town

Syria bombing: EU 'understands' recent airstrikes but calls for 'urgent' resumption of peace talks

Chemical weapons inspectors have entered Douma, the location of the alleged poison gas attack on 7 April, according to Syrian state media.

The UK and US had accused Russia and Syria of blocking the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) team from the area, which Russia denied.

Moscow had previously said it would grant the inspectors access on Wednesday, after suggesting any delay was due to Saturday’s joint air strikes and a lack of proper permits – an assertion denied in turn by the UN.

On Tuesday, France said it was “very likely” that evidence was “disappearing” from Douma while inspectors waited in Damascus to be allowed in.

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British MPs on Tuesday held a second emergency debate on the use of Britain’s armed forces in Saturday’s air strikes.

Jeremy Corbyn and others have criticised Theresa May for not giving parliament a vote on military action, but the prime minister defended the bombings as “a limited, targeted strike on a legal basis that has been used before” designed to disrupt Syria’s chemical weapons capability.

The Government won the support of MPs at a symbolic vote on the issue of whether it should consult parliament before taking military action in Syria.

The 317 to 256 vote went against a call by Mr Corbyn to protest Ms May’s decision to launch strikes against Syria without first seeking approval.

Key Points

• UK government wins vote on military action by majority of 61
• May defends decision to send RAF into Syria
• Syrian media says overnight missile strikes were actually 'false alarm'
• Four other G7 countries back Saturday's joint strikes
• France says evidence 'likely disappearing' from Douma

[17 April 2018 18:44 · Harriet Agerholm]

[17 April 2018 18:55 · Harriet Agerholm]

The Russian military has said it has found rebel chemical weapons stockpiles in the Syrian town hit by a suspected chemical attack. 

Alexander Rodionov of the military's chemical weapons protection unit said its experts found chlorine and components for producing mustard gas at a rebel laboratory in Douma. 

Syrian activists blamed the Syrian government for the 7 April chemical attack in Douma, which they said killed over 40 people. Mr Rodionov said the canister with chlorine was similar to the one shown in images released by activists. 

Associated Press

[17 April 2018 19:31 · Harriet Agerholm]

That's it for today for The Independent's liveblog on the situation in Syria and the international response. Thanks for following.