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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Assad confirms chemical weapons plan | Syria crisis: Assad confirms chemical weapons plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has appeared on Russian TV to confirm that his country's chemical weapons will be placed under international control. | Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has appeared on Russian TV to confirm that his country's chemical weapons will be placed under international control. |
| Mr Assad told Rossiya 24 the move was as a result of a Russian initiative and not the threat of US military action. | Mr Assad told Rossiya 24 the move was as a result of a Russian initiative and not the threat of US military action. |
| The comments came as the Russian and US foreign ministers prepared for key talks in Geneva. | The comments came as the Russian and US foreign ministers prepared for key talks in Geneva. |
| The US accuses the Syrian regime of killing hundreds in a poison-gas attack in the Damascus suburbs on 21 August. | The US accuses the Syrian regime of killing hundreds in a poison-gas attack in the Damascus suburbs on 21 August. |
| The government denies the allegation, blaming rebels for the attack. | The government denies the allegation, blaming rebels for the attack. |
| 'Chance for peace' | 'Chance for peace' |
| Mr Assad told Rossiya 24, the state-run news channel: "Syria is placing its chemical weapons under international control because of Russia. The US threats did not influence the decision." | Mr Assad told Rossiya 24, the state-run news channel: "Syria is placing its chemical weapons under international control because of Russia. The US threats did not influence the decision." |
| Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier outlined three main phases of Moscow's proposal: | Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier outlined three main phases of Moscow's proposal: |
| In his TV interview, Mr Assad confirmed Syria would send documents to the UN as part of the process of signing the chemical weapons convention. | In his TV interview, Mr Assad confirmed Syria would send documents to the UN as part of the process of signing the chemical weapons convention. |
| Mr Lavrov, completing a visit to Kazakhstan, said: "I am sure that there is a chance for peace in Syria. We cannot let it slip away." | Mr Lavrov, completing a visit to Kazakhstan, said: "I am sure that there is a chance for peace in Syria. We cannot let it slip away." |
| He did not mention the destruction of the weapons, which is thought to be a sticking point in Moscow's negotiations with Damascus. | He did not mention the destruction of the weapons, which is thought to be a sticking point in Moscow's negotiations with Damascus. |
| Mr Lavrov is due to discuss the plan in Geneva with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who will first hold talks with UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. | Mr Lavrov is due to discuss the plan in Geneva with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who will first hold talks with UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. |
| Diplomatic coup | |
| US officials have described Russia's plan as "doable but difficult". | US officials have described Russia's plan as "doable but difficult". |
| Officials travelling with Mr Kerry say they want a rapid agreement with the Russians on principles for the process, including a demand for Syria to give a quick, complete and public declaration of its stockpile. | |
| The US postponed plans to launch military strikes on Syria after Russia proposed the disarmament earlier this week. | The US postponed plans to launch military strikes on Syria after Russia proposed the disarmament earlier this week. |
| Russian media have hailed the move as a diplomatic coup. | |
| President Vladimir Putin affirmed this view by writing an opinion piece in the New York Times lambasting US policy, saying strikes would lead to an upsurge in terrorism. | |
| "The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the Pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria's borders," he wrote. | |
| However, Western officials and the Syrian opposition remain sceptical over the willingness of President Assad's government to give up its arsenal. | |
| State department officials have been stressing the exploratory nature of the talks with the Russians, saying they want "to see if there's reality here, or not". | |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Russian plan "must be treated with great caution". | |
| And experts have pointed out the difficulty of conducting such a process in a war zone. | |
| The rebels have already refused to co-operate. | |
| Gen Salim Idriss of the Free Syrian Army said he categorically rejected the plan, and insisted that the most important thing was to punish the perpetrators of chemical attacks. | |
| If the talks are successful, the US hopes the disarmament process will be agreed in a UN Security Council resolution. | |
| However, Russia has already objected to a draft resolution that would be enforced by Chapter VII of the UN charter, which would in effect sanction the use of force if Syria failed in its obligations. | |
| Russia regards as unacceptable any resolution backed by military force, or a resolution that blames the Syrian government for chemical attacks. | |
| More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. | |
| Russia, supported by China, has blocked three draft resolutions condemning the Assad government. |