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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Syria 'submits chemical weapons data' to Hague watchdog | Syria 'submits chemical weapons data' to Hague watchdog |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syria has begun sending details of its chemical weapons as part of a US-Russia brokered deal to make them safe, the chemical arms watchdog has said. | Syria has begun sending details of its chemical weapons as part of a US-Russia brokered deal to make them safe, the chemical arms watchdog has said. |
| The Hague-based OPCW added that it expected more details from Syria in the coming days and had postponed a meeting planned for Sunday. | The Hague-based OPCW added that it expected more details from Syria in the coming days and had postponed a meeting planned for Sunday. |
| Syria was given a Saturday deadline to give a full list of its chemical arms. | Syria was given a Saturday deadline to give a full list of its chemical arms. |
| The US had threatened military action over a chemical attack in Damascus last month, which the UN called a war crime. | The US had threatened military action over a chemical attack in Damascus last month, which the UN called a war crime. |
| The US, UK and France have accused Syrian government forces of carrying out the attack in the Ghouta district on 21 August, but President Bashar al-Assad has blamed rebel groups. | The US, UK and France have accused Syrian government forces of carrying out the attack in the Ghouta district on 21 August, but President Bashar al-Assad has blamed rebel groups. |
| Separately, two Syrian rebel groups have agreed a ceasefire in the northern town of Azaz after two days of fighting that raised fears of a war within a war. | Separately, two Syrian rebel groups have agreed a ceasefire in the northern town of Azaz after two days of fighting that raised fears of a war within a war. |
| Meeting postponed | Meeting postponed |
| Michael Luhan, a spokesman for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is responsible for policing the treaty outlawing chemical arms, said Syria's submission was an "initial declaration". | Michael Luhan, a spokesman for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is responsible for policing the treaty outlawing chemical arms, said Syria's submission was an "initial declaration". |
| Mr Luhan said it was now being examined by the organisation's technical secretariat but he declined to say what was in it. | Mr Luhan said it was now being examined by the organisation's technical secretariat but he declined to say what was in it. |
| A UN diplomat confirmed to Reuters that details had been submitted, adding: "It's quite long... and being translated." | A UN diplomat confirmed to Reuters that details had been submitted, adding: "It's quite long... and being translated." |
| The US-Russia-brokered deal aims to have inspectors on the ground in Syria in November, when they will make an initial assessment and oversee the destruction of certain equipment. | The US-Russia-brokered deal aims to have inspectors on the ground in Syria in November, when they will make an initial assessment and oversee the destruction of certain equipment. |
| The destruction of all of Syria's chemical weapons would then be completed by mid-2014. | The destruction of all of Syria's chemical weapons would then be completed by mid-2014. |
| The core members of the OPCW were expected to vote on the timetable next week. | The core members of the OPCW were expected to vote on the timetable next week. |
| However, the OPCW said in a statement on Friday that a meeting of its executive council scheduled for Sunday had been postponed, without giving a reason. | However, the OPCW said in a statement on Friday that a meeting of its executive council scheduled for Sunday had been postponed, without giving a reason. |
| "We will announce the new date and time... as soon as possible," it said. | "We will announce the new date and time... as soon as possible," it said. |
| Once the OPCW agrees to the plan, the UN Security Council will seek to endorse it. | Once the OPCW agrees to the plan, the UN Security Council will seek to endorse it. |
| However, the five permanent members are still discussing the wording of a resolution, with Russia opposing threats of force against Syria. | However, the five permanent members are still discussing the wording of a resolution, with Russia opposing threats of force against Syria. |
| On Monday, the UN confirmed in a report that the nerve agent sarin had been used in a rocket attack in Ghouta, although it did not apportion blame. | On Monday, the UN confirmed in a report that the nerve agent sarin had been used in a rocket attack in Ghouta, although it did not apportion blame. |
| Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the mission was unable to verify the number of casualties, but referred to the "terrible loss of life on 21 August". | |
| France, the UK and US insist the report clearly backed their stance that only the government forces were capable of carrying out the attack. | France, the UK and US insist the report clearly backed their stance that only the government forces were capable of carrying out the attack. |
| Syria's ally, Russia, rejected the argument, saying it had "serious grounds" to believe the attack had been a provocation by rebel forces. | Syria's ally, Russia, rejected the argument, saying it had "serious grounds" to believe the attack had been a provocation by rebel forces. |
| Film dispute | Film dispute |
| Separately on Friday, the two rebel groups - the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), linked to al-Qaeda, and the larger Western-backed Free Syrian Army - agreed a truce in Azaz, near the Turkish border. | Separately on Friday, the two rebel groups - the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), linked to al-Qaeda, and the larger Western-backed Free Syrian Army - agreed a truce in Azaz, near the Turkish border. |
| Isis had seized the northern town from the FSA on Wednesday. | Isis had seized the northern town from the FSA on Wednesday. |
| The fighting began when a wounded rebel - either from Isis or from an allied group, al-Muhajireen - was taken to a field clinic and, while there, he was filmed as part of a fundraising exercise. | The fighting began when a wounded rebel - either from Isis or from an allied group, al-Muhajireen - was taken to a field clinic and, while there, he was filmed as part of a fundraising exercise. |
| The wounded fighter demanded the film, and called on friends to come to his aid, prompting a full-scale attack. | The wounded fighter demanded the film, and called on friends to come to his aid, prompting a full-scale attack. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood, on the border, says that under the ceasefire deal the two rebel sides have agreed to exchange prisoners and hand back property. | The BBC's Paul Wood, on the border, says that under the ceasefire deal the two rebel sides have agreed to exchange prisoners and hand back property. |
| 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 Assad began in 2011. |
| Millions of Syrians have fled the country, mostly to neighbouring nations. Millions more have been internally displaced. | Millions of Syrians have fled the country, mostly to neighbouring nations. Millions more have been internally displaced. |