11.09 Syrian Opposition Wants to Put Chemical Arms Under Russian Control
BEIRUT, September 11 (RIA Novosti) The Syrian oppositions National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change said Wednesday that it had proposed that Russia oversee the war-torn countrys chemical weapons until a transitional government is formed.
We have proposed placing chemical weapons under Russias supervision until a transitional government is formed, the groups spokesman, Haytham Manna, said in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen pan-Arabic satellite television channel.
We realize that [US President Barack] Obama needs to find a way out of the impasse he has reached, said Manna, who represents Syrias moderate opposition.
Speaking on the same TV channel, Russias ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, said Moscow had handed over to the UN Security Council evidence that chemical weapons in Syria were used by rebel forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that his countrys plan to place Syrias chemical weapons under international control would be feasible only if the United States and its allies pledged not to use force.
Putin added that Moscow hoped Syria would accept international control over its chemical weapon stockpiles and also join the convention forbidding the use of chemical weapons.
