In fast moving events, the UN Security Council canceled on Tuesday an emergency late afternoon session on Syria following Russia's reported rejection of a tough French proposal for international control of Syria's chemical weapons.
The Syrian government has accepted a Russian proposal to put its chemical weapons under international control to "stave off" a possible U.S. aggression, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that placing Syrian chemical weapons under international control makes sense only if the U.S. drops its military strike plan against Syria.
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that his country is ready to reveal the sites of its chemical weapons storages to representatives of Russia and the United Nations, according to the pan-Arab al- Mayadeen TV.
Iran supports the Russian proposal to place Syrian chemical weapons under international control, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham announced on Tuesday.
Russia on Monday called on Syria to join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and put its chemical weapons storage facilities under international control.
The White House announced Monday that 14 more countries have joined the United States' call for a strong international response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria last month.
Russia's proposal suggesting to place Syrian chemical arms under international control "is worthy of close scrutiny," and was acceptable with a U.N. Security Council resolution, French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday.
The U.S. Senate delayed a test vote Monday on authorizing a limited military strike on Syria, amid signs of a possible breakthrough in international diplomacy to seek a political solution.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday called on the international community to overcome divisions and respond firmly to the alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday at a Senate hearing that boots on the ground may be needed in Syria if chemical weapons were to fall into wrong hands, a scenario representing a clear danger to the United States and its allies.
French intelligence reports indicated that the chemical attack of Aug. 21 in Damascus was conducted by the Syrian government forces.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said if the Western countries have evidence about his administration's involvement in a chemical gas attack, they would have declared it, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday that his country is capable of confronting any external aggression, in reference to a possible U.S.-led strike against his country, as Iran, his staunchest ally, pledged constant support to Damascus in face of escalating pressures.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon cut short a European visit to return to UN headquarters Thursday to await a preliminary report from chemical weapons investigators who are due to complete work in Syria this weekend, a UN spokesman said here.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday that information from a wide variety of sources suggested the Syrian government had used chemical weapons in attacks near the Syrian capital, Damascus last week.
The government of Syria on Wednesday asked the world body to investigate three alleged chemical attacks carried out by rebels in the Damascus suburbs last week, a Syrian envoy told reporters here.
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