So this is quite interesting. Out of nowhere Russia suggested that instead of attacking Syria, the international community should take control of Syria’s chemical weapons. Obama didn’t mind that. Neither does Syria, it seems..

This, from SKY News:

Syria has accepted a proposal to put chemical weapons under international control, state television has reported.

Prime Minister Wael al Halki said a proposal to hand over the weapons had been accepted “to spare Syrian blood”.

Russian news agency Interfax quoted Syria’s foreign minister Walid al Moualem as saying: “We held a very fruitful round of talks with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday, and he proposed an initiative relating to chemical weapons. In the evening we agreed to the Russian initiative.”

He said Syria had agreed because this would “remove the grounds for American aggression,” the report said.

Mr Obama still plans to make the case for Congress to authorise military action as an option, it has been confirmed.

[more here]

The poms aren’t altogether convinced, with William Hague chiming:

Foreign Secretary William Hague urged caution, saying: “How do you tell the difference between breakthroughs and delay tactics? That’s exactly what we have to think about here.

“We have to make sure that this is not just a distraction tactic.”

Good point, Billy.

Iran and China dig the idea and France will later today submit a UN Security Council draft resolution for Syria to give up its chemical weapons.