Beirut: A UN-marked vehicle was in the area close to the site of the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria’s Douma on Friday under escort from Russian military police, a Reuters witness said.

The arrival of the vehicle comes three days after a UN security team turned back after being fired upon while doing reconnaissance in Douma for the visit of a team of international inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Russia claims the gas attack in Douma was staged by Western powers in order to justify a military response.

The accusation has been flatly denied by the West.