Syrian officials stated their support of a Russian proposal to hand over chemical weapons to the international community, in a sharp turn of events that could completely change the course of the issue in Damascus-if the regime follows through on their approval.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that, in an attempt "to thwart U.S. aggression" against Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad has decided to accept a plan from its most powerful ally, Russia.
France said it will draft the U.N. resolution for a diplomatic option - if Syria accepts, the Security Council will give Assad a specific timeframe for the regime to turn over its chemical arsenal to the international body. If Damascus does not observe that deadline, the New York Times reported that the resolution will allow military force.
China - a nation that called for the U.S. to seek a "political option" before striking Syria - and Iran have stated their support, the Washington Post reported.
But some are worried that Russia will take up issue with the proposal, as they appeared to be doing on Tuesday. Others doubted that Damascus would, in fact, give up all their weapons, adding to fears that the arsenal wouldn't make it to the international community before being compromised by any participants of the civil war that has plagued the nation since 2011.
The Associated Press questioned how this move could even help resolve issues so deeply entrenched in Syrian society that they have resulted in the reported deaths of more than 100,000 citizens.
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told AP that he'd cautioned French authorities not "to fall into a trap," giving Assad leeway on alleged responsibility for the use of chemical weapons, nor allow the leader to simply start using conventional weapons.
"We do not want this to be used as a diversion," Fabius told the news service. "It is by accepting these precise conditions that we will judge the credibility of the intentions expressed yesterday."
President Barack Obama told the press that he was skeptical about whether Syria would agree with the proposal, but that his team would work on rhetoric.
"Let's see if we can come up with language that avoids a strike but accomplishes our key goals to make sure that these chemical weapons are not used," he told ABC.
The President will address the nation on Syria at 9 p.m., EST.
Meanwhile, the U.N. has scheduled an emergency meeting on Syria at 8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m. EST, Agence France Presse tweeted.
BREAKING UN Council to hold urgent Syria meeting at 2000 GMT
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) September 10, 2013
