Egypt worried about polarization in UN Security Council over chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun

Egypt is worried about the polarization which has emerged in the United Nations Security Council in the wake of the recent chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson announced on Thursday.

“We are sorry that the living conditions of the Syrian people are being held hostage to disputes within the Security Council,” said spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid in the statement. Egypt will ultimately make the decision that is in the interest of the Syrian people, he added.

The statement comes one day after the Security Council postponed voting on a draft resolution condemning the attack. The draft submitted by Washington, London and Paris was postponed to allow for negotiations with Russia, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, which opposed the resolution.

During Wednesday’s meeting US ambassador to the UN Security Council Nikki Haley warned that countries could be "compelled to act" individually if a collective action is not agreed upon, reported Reuters.

The chemical airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun, in Idlib province, took place on Tuesday, killing at least 70 people. Western countries have held Assad's government responsible for the attack, despite repeatedly denying involvement.

In another statement released on Wednesday, Egypt condemned the ‘random bombing’ of Khan Sheikhoun.

Last February the Egyptian government abstained from voting on a Security Council draft resolution moving to ban the supply of helicopters to the Syrian government and impose sanctions on Syrian military, security officials and entities within Assad’s government over accusations that they have been involved in the use of chemical weapons on civilians.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly translated the ministry's statement as reading "weary." It has been amended to reflect that the ministry stated Egypt is worried about polarization within the UN Security Council.