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| US and Russia agree Syria chemical weapons deal in Geneva | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syria's chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014, under an agreement between the US and Russia. | Syria's chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014, under an agreement between the US and Russia. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined a six-point framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week. | US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined a six-point framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week. |
| If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force. | If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force. |
| The US says the Syrian regime killed hundreds in a gas attack last month. | The US says the Syrian regime killed hundreds in a gas attack last month. |
| The government of Bashar al-Assad denies the allegations and has accused the rebels of carrying out the attack on 21 August. | |
| In a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry called on the Assad government to live up to its public commitments. | In a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry called on the Assad government to live up to its public commitments. |
| "There can be no room for games. Or anything less than full compliance by the Assad regime," he said. | "There can be no room for games. Or anything less than full compliance by the Assad regime," he said. |
| Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov said if Syria failed to comply, then a UN resolution would be sought under Chapter VII of the UN charter, which allows for the use of force. | Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov said if Syria failed to comply, then a UN resolution would be sought under Chapter VII of the UN charter, which allows for the use of force. |
| Mr Kerry said inspectors must be on the ground by November, and that the stockpiles should be removed or destroyed by mid-2014. | Mr Kerry said inspectors must be on the ground by November, and that the stockpiles should be removed or destroyed by mid-2014. |
| The six points outlined by Mr Kerry were: | |
| France, which was the only country willing to join the US in taking military action in Syria, welcomed the agreement. | |
| Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said it was an "important advance". | |
| However, the military leader of the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army rejected the deal and promised to continue fighting. | |
| "There is nothing in this agreement that concerns us," said Gen Salim Idriss, describing it as a Russian initiative designed to gain time for the Syrian government. | |
| Mr Kerry said he hoped the deal would help kick-start a wider peace process. | |
| "We could also lay the groundwork for further co-operation that is essential to end the bloodshed that has consumed Syria for more than two years," he said. | |
| "What we agreed on here today could conceivable be the first critical concrete step in that direction." | |
| Mr Lavrov suggested there could be another international peace conference on Syria by October. | |
| "The main thing is to make sure that all Syrian sides are represented at the conference," he said. | |
| Over the years there have been several conferences, some of which have included the Syrian opposition and excluded the government. | |
| More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. | |
| Millions of Syrians have fled the country, and millions more have been left homeless by the fighting. |