Syria crisis: Obama welcomes Russia's chemical weapons proposal

Russia's suggestion for Syria to place weapons under international control made after apparent stumble by John Kerry

Barack Obama has described the Russian proposal for the Syrian regime to hand over its chemical weapons as a 'possible breakthrough'. Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Barack Obama welcomed a Russian proposal on Monday for Syria to place its chemical weapons under international control, opening up the first real chance of a political settlement to the crisis since hundreds of civilians died in an attack on a Damascus suburb last month.

In a series of primetime television interviews, Obama described Russia's offer as a "possible breakthrough" and a "potentially positive development" in the standoff with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. With the prospect of a deal with the Syrians in the offing, the Senate majority leader Harry Reid postponed a crucial vote to authorise military action. Obama conceded in an NBC interview on Monday night that he might lose his campaign in Congress for authorisation. "I wouldn't say I'm confident" of the outcome, he said, adding that he had not decided what to do if it voted against him.

Russia's proposal came after an apparent stumble by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, which set off a diplomatic scramble in Washington as administration officials sought to assess whether it offered a way out for Obama from what has become an increasingly intractable problem.

Speaking in London, Kerry suggested that the only way for Syria to avoid the threat of a US attack would be for it to hand over all its chemical weapons within a week. The remarks were characterised as a blunder by some Washington commentators, and the Department of State at first attempted to play down their significance, saying Kerry had been speaking "rhetorically" about a situation that was unlikely to materialise.

Thousands of Women Plan Protest Against Olu of Warri

No fewer than 5,000 women are expected to storm the palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase II, on September 10, 2013, Tuesday, to protest the monarch’s decision to abolish some of the ancient Itshekiri cultural practices.

Rafa destroys Djokovic in four sets to claim second US Open title at Flushing Meadows

From a threatened career to a threat to the record books, Rafael Nadal’s resurgence continues after another extraordinary scrap against Novak Djokovic.

MEDICATIONS

Combination drugs effectively treat MERS virus in monkeys

U.S. doctors on Sunday said a combination of two anti-viral drugs was an option for treating MERS respiratory disease after the therapy was found to work on lab monkeys.

Mo Abudu Covers September Edition Of TW Magazine