Syria ready to surrender chemical weapons

The country would declare its arsenal and sign the chemical weapons convention

Syrians Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem has announced that the Bashar al- Assad regime is ready to stop chemical weapons production and place them under international control.

Al-Moallem said Syria would fully co-operate with Russian plans by handing over the sites, where chemical weapons were stored, to international representatives, The Mirror reports.

He further said Syria would declare its arsenal and sign the chemical weapons convention.Secretary of State John Kerry said the Russian plan must be fully backed by the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Syria's plan to declare its chemical weapons stockpile would only work if the United States agrees not to use force.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to delay a vote on military strikes in Syria to give Russia time to get Syria to surrender its chemical weapons.