Russia has betrayed obligation to end Syria's chemical weapons programme: White House

U.S. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday accused Russia of betraying its obligation to end Syria's chemical weapons programme in light of a suspected chemical weapons attack over the weekend.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters the attack was consistent with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's established pattern of chemical weapons use, and that Russia and Iran also bore responsibility for their material support for the government.

"It is also now clear that Russia has betrayed its obligations to guarantee the end of the Syrian regime's chemical weapons programme," Sanders added.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Eric Beech)