Russia offered to send a small detachment of observers to Syria to help with the destruction of its chemical weapons arsenal. Foreign Minister Lavrov accused the US, UK, and France of trying to “blackmail” Russia by threatening to pull out of the chemical weapons disposal deal unless Russia supports a UN resolution authorizing military action against the Assad regime. He said the US and Russia previously agreed that there would be no UN resolution until the OCPW issues a statement on Syria’s chemical arsenal.
