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| Hague watchdog probes Syria chemical weapons data | Hague watchdog probes Syria chemical weapons data |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The international chemical weapons watchdog has said that it is studying details submitted by Syria about its arsenal of poison gas and nerve agents. | The international chemical weapons watchdog has said that it is studying details submitted by Syria about its arsenal of poison gas and nerve agents. |
| But a spokesman for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it was expecting more details from Damascus ahead of deadline for submissions by the end of Saturday. | But a spokesman for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it was expecting more details from Damascus ahead of deadline for submissions by the end of Saturday. |
| Syria has agreed to provide a full list of its chemical arms by then. | Syria has agreed to provide a full list of its chemical arms by then. |
| It is believed to have around 1,000 tonnes of chemical toxins. | It is believed to have around 1,000 tonnes of chemical toxins. |
| Its entire chemical weapons arsenal is meant to be dismantled by the middle of next year under the terms of a US-Russia brokered deal. | |
| The US, UK and France have accused Syrian government forces of carrying out a chemical attack in the Ghouta district of the capital, Damascus, on 21 August, killing hundreds of people. | The US, UK and France have accused Syrian government forces of carrying out a chemical attack in the Ghouta district of the capital, Damascus, on 21 August, killing hundreds of people. |
| On Monday, the UN confirmed in a report that the nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack, although it did not apportion blame. | On Monday, the UN confirmed in a report that the nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack, although it did not apportion blame. |
| The US has threatened military action over the attack. | The US has threatened military action over the attack. |
| But Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed rebel groups and Syria's ally, Russia, said it had "serious grounds" to believe the attack had been a provocation by the rebels. | But Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed rebel groups and Syria's ally, Russia, said it had "serious grounds" to believe the attack had been a provocation by the rebels. |
| Meanwhile discussions are continuing at the United Nations over the text of a Security Council resolution on the disarmament programme - with Russia still opposed to the explicit mention of penalties in the event of Syria failing to co-operate. | Meanwhile discussions are continuing at the United Nations over the text of a Security Council resolution on the disarmament programme - with Russia still opposed to the explicit mention of penalties in the event of Syria failing to co-operate. |
| In developments on the ground in Syria, two rebel groups have agreed a ceasefire in the northern town of Azaz after two days of fighting that had raised fears of a war within a war. | In developments on the ground in Syria, two rebel groups have agreed a ceasefire in the northern town of Azaz after two days of fighting that had raised fears of a war within a war. |
| Timetable unclear | Timetable unclear |
| 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." |
| BBC World Affairs Correspondent Paul Adams says that it is not clear how much weapons information the Syrians have handed over, but that it clearly falls some way short. | BBC World Affairs Correspondent Paul Adams says that it is not clear how much weapons information the Syrians have handed over, but that it clearly falls some way short. |
| The US-Russian 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-Russian 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. |
| The five permanent members are still discussing the wording of a resolution, with Russia opposing threats of force against Syria. | The five permanent members are still discussing the wording of a resolution, with Russia opposing threats of force against Syria. |
| The White House said on Friday that the threat of military action remained on the table if Syria broke the agreement. | The White House said on Friday that the threat of military action remained on the table if Syria broke the agreement. |
| Rebel truce | Rebel truce |
| 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 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. |
| Correspondents say that the in-fighting has been some of the worst in recent months between forces seeking to depose President Assad - and threatens further to fragment an opposition already out-gunned by government forces. | Correspondents say that the in-fighting has been some of the worst in recent months between forces seeking to depose President Assad - and threatens further to fragment an opposition already out-gunned by government forces. |
| The Free Syrian Army has accused Isis of seeking to establish an Islamic state that undermines the rebels' struggle for a free Syria. | The Free Syrian Army has accused Isis of seeking to establish an Islamic state that undermines the rebels' struggle for a free Syria. |
| 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, and millions more have been internally displaced. | Millions of Syrians have fled the country, mostly to neighbouring nations, and millions more have been internally displaced. |
| ISIS strongholds in rebel-held and contested areas | ISIS strongholds in rebel-held and contested areas |