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| 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. | |
| 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. |
| US officials have described Russia's plan as "doable but difficult". | |
| Officials travelling with Mr Kerry said they wanted 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. |