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Syria crisis: Russia's Putin issues plea to US over Syria Syria crisis: Russia's Putin issues plea to US over Syria
(34 minutes later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis.Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis.
In an opinion article in the New York Times, he warns that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism. He wrote in the New York Times that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism.
He says millions of people see the US not as a model of democracy but as relying on brute force. The US had threatened strikes, accusing the Syrian regime of killing hundreds in a poison-gas attack on 21 August.
The US and Russia are due to hold talks in Geneva later over Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. Instead, Russia, an ally of Damascus, proposed that Syria hand over its chemical arsenal. The US and Russia are due to meet later to discuss that plan.
Moscow, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has proposed putting the weapons under international control before destroying them. The Syrian government, which denies that it has used chemical weapons on its own people, has agreed at least partially to the Russian proposal.
Damascus has agreed, at least partially, to the the proposal, and US President Barack Obama has put military action against Syria on hold. The diplomatic moves prompted US President Barack Obama to put military action against Syria on hold.
The US blames the Syrian government for a chemical weapons attack near Damascus last month that killed hundreds. Syria blames the attack on rebels.
'Escalation' warning
In his New York Times article, Mr Putin said recent events had prompted him to "speak directly to the American people and their political leaders".In his New York Times article, Mr Putin said recent events had prompted him to "speak directly to the American people and their political leaders".
He warned that the UN could suffer the same fate as its predecessor, the League of Nations, if "influential countries... take military action without Security Council authorisation".He warned that the UN could suffer the same fate as its predecessor, the League of Nations, if "influential countries... take military action without Security Council authorisation".
"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."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.
"A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism.""A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism."
He reiterated Russia's opinion that the gas attack of 21 August was probably carried out by opposition forces "to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons".He reiterated Russia's opinion that the gas attack of 21 August was probably carried out by opposition forces "to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons".
US Secretary of State John Kerry is preparing to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva later to discuss Moscow's proposal. US Secretary of State John Kerry is preparing to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva later to discuss Moscow's proposal.
Mr Lavrov told a news conference in Kazakhstan earlier that both sides were bringing teams of specialists and experts to the meeting to thrash out the technical details of the plan. Mr Lavrov told a news conference in Kazakhstan that both sides were bringing teams of specialists and experts to the meeting to thrash out the technical details of the plan.
He outlined three main phases of the proposal:He outlined three main phases of the proposal:
Mr Lavrov did not mention the destruction of the weapons, which is thought to be a sticking point in Moscow's negotiations with Damascus.Mr Lavrov did not mention the destruction of the weapons, which is thought to be a sticking point in Moscow's negotiations with Damascus.
Gen Salim Idriss of the rebel Free Syrian Army has dismissed the Russian plan, saying it did not go far enough.Gen Salim Idriss of the rebel Free Syrian Army has dismissed the Russian plan, saying it did not go far enough.
"[We] request not only that the chemical arsenal is put under international control, but [also] to judge the author of the crime before the International Criminal Court," he said."[We] request not only that the chemical arsenal is put under international control, but [also] to judge the author of the crime before the International Criminal Court," he said.
On Wednesday, envoys of the five permanent UN Security Council members met in New York to discuss the plan.On Wednesday, envoys of the five permanent UN Security Council members met in New York to discuss the plan.
One diplomat told the BBC that the UN envoys' talks were largely symbolic and that the serious questions would be left for Geneva.One diplomat told the BBC that the UN envoys' talks were largely symbolic and that the serious questions would be left for Geneva.
Republican Senator John McCain, who has long argued for US intervention in Syria, said he was "puzzled" why Mr Kerry was meeting Mr Lavrov in Geneva.Republican Senator John McCain, who has long argued for US intervention in Syria, said he was "puzzled" why Mr Kerry was meeting Mr Lavrov in Geneva.
"Why doesn't Lavrov come to the UN and everybody agree on a resolution and pass it? It's got to be a resolution through the Security Council," he said."Why doesn't Lavrov come to the UN and everybody agree on a resolution and pass it? It's got to be a resolution through the Security Council," he said.
Diplomats predict that talks at the UN Security Council will continue for several days after the Geneva meeting before any resolution can be put to a vote.Diplomats predict that talks at the UN Security Council will continue for several days after the Geneva meeting before any resolution can be put to a vote.
France has already been working on 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.France has already been working on 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.
However, Russia has already indicated that this would be unacceptable, as would any resolution blaming the Syrian government for chemical attacks. Russia, supported by China, has blocked three draft resolutions condemning the Assad government.However, Russia has already indicated that this would be unacceptable, as would any resolution blaming the Syrian government for chemical attacks. Russia, supported by China, has blocked three draft resolutions condemning the Assad government.
More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011.
As the diplomatic efforts continue, the Syrian army has been trying to retake the Christian town of Maaloula, which was overrun at the weekend by rebel forces, including members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.As the diplomatic efforts continue, the Syrian army has been trying to retake the Christian town of Maaloula, which was overrun at the weekend by rebel forces, including members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, who visited Maaloula on Wednesday, says fighting has been continuing despite earlier reports that government forces had retaken the town.The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, who visited Maaloula on Wednesday, says fighting has been continuing despite earlier reports that government forces had retaken the town.
Meanwhile, video footage has emerged on the internet appearing to show Farsi-speaking men fighting in the northern city of Aleppo. Iran has long been accused of helping Syrian government forces.