Syria’s Assad Promises To Hand Over Chemical Weapons To Avert Strikes
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, September 12, 2013 12:05 EDT
President Bashar al-Assad vowed to hand over Syria’s chemical weapons Thursday as Moscow and Washington were set to begin high-stakes talks on a Russian plan to avert US-led military action against his regime.
Speaking to Russian television, Assad said Syria would place its chemical weapons under foreign control in line with Moscow’s proposal.
“Syria is handing over chemical weapons under international control because of Russia,” Assad was quoted as telling Rossiya 24 state news channel.
“US threats have not affected the decision,” he said, adding that Syria planned to file documents to the United Nations to sign an agreement on chemical arms.
Assad’s move came as the US and Russia prepared to meet in Geneva for talks on the proposal for Syria to open its doors to inspectors and eliminate its chemical weapons.
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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/12/syrias-assad-promises-to-hand-over-chemical-weapons-to-avert-strikes/