An emergency closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Syria has been called off, as nations mull a plan to destroy the country's weapons.
An emergency closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Syria has been called off, as nations mull a plan to destroy the country's weapons.
Syria says it has accepted a Russian proposal to give up its chemical weapons in order to stop a threatened United States military strike.
Syrian state television is reporting Prime Minister Wael al-Halki accepted the Russian proposal "to spare Syrian blood."
The proposal would involved Syria putting all its chemical weapons under international control and having them destroyed.
The plan is also being discussed at the United Nations in New York, where envoys from the US, France and Britain are holding talks on a draft resolution expected to be tabled at the Security Council to ensure Syria's chemical weapons are put out of use.
However, a planned meeting of the council, called by Russia, was called off at short notice at Russia's request.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would reject any plan which threatens the use of force.
A White House official says United States President Barack Obama has spoken by phone with French President Francois Holland and British Prime Minister David Cameron about the Russian plan.
However, US Secretary of State John Kerry has told a US Congressional hearing that the US will not wait for long to see firm details of Russia's plan, the BBC reports.
"We have made it clear to them that this cannot be a process of delay, this cannot be a process of avoidance, it has to be real, it has to be measurable, tangible," he said.
Mr Kerry said it would be exceedingly difficult to fulfill those conditions.
"We're waiting for that proposal but we're not waiting for long," said Mr Kerry.
Mr Obama is scheduled to address the nation later in the day.
