Syrian President Assad Outlines His Conditions To Give Up His Chemical Weapons

Assad Makes New Demands As Kerry, Lavrov Meet On Chemical Weapons -- L.A. Times

Syrian President Bashar Assad says he won't give up Syria's chemical arsenal unless the U.S. stops arming rebels.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John F. Kerry and his Russian counterpart huddled Thursday in Geneva in a push to disarm Syria of chemical weapons, even as Syrian President Bashar Assad warned that he wouldn't surrender his toxic arsenal unless the Obama administration stopped arming rebels battling to overthrow his government.

Assad's comments suggested another hurdle for the hastily arranged talks, which were already fraught with considerable risk, and threatened a separate diplomatic process at the United Nations. They underscored the limits of Moscow's leverage over the embattled Syrian ruler, who faces a mortal threat from insurgents in a bitter civil war.

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More News On U.S. - Russian - Syrian Negotiations On Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpile

Syrian crisis: Keeping up with key developments -- CNN
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria claims 'full membership' in global chemical weapons ban – as it happened -- The Guardian
Assad sets out his terms for chemical weapons convention -- BBC
Assad Sets Conditions as U.S.-Russia Geneva Talks Open -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Syria will hand over its chemical weapons, says Bashar al-Assad -- The Telegraph
High-stakes U.S.-Russian talks open, Syria to join chemical arms ban -- Reuters
Syria Takes Steps to Join Weapons Treaty as U.S.-Russian Talks Begin -- New York Times
Syria Takes First Step Toward Joining CW Treaty -- Voice of America
UN: Assad has signed chemical weapons decree -- Al Jazeera
U.S.-Russia talks on Syria chemical arsenal begin on tense note -- Washington Post
Syria crisis: Tense US-Russia talks on chemicals deal -- BBC
Kerry talks tough in Syria encounter with Russia -- AP
Kerry says Syria talks can't be used as stalling tactic -- CBS
John Kerry cautiously optimistic over Syria chemical weapons surrender offer -- The Guardian

Update: This is worrisome .... Report: Syrian Chemical Arms Could Be Used by Terrorists -- Washington Examiner