The United Nations Security Council will vote today on whether to extend an international investigation of chemical weapons attacks in Syria - a measure that could be vetoed by Russia. 

The United States requested a vote on a draft resolution it presented last week that would allow the joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) panel to continue for another year on its work of identifying who is behind toxic gas attacks in Syria's six-year war. 

The measure is facing a possible veto from Russia, Syria's ally, which wants to first see a report due on Thursday on a sarin gas attack in Khan Sheikhun before deciding on the fate of the inquiry.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley has urged the council to act now to support the continued work of the panel, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). Its mandate ends on November 18.

Source: Newsonair