War Averted? Syria Apparently Accepts Russia's Proposal to Turn Over Chemical Weapons

MOSCOW (AP) -- Syria said Tuesday it has accepted Russia's proposal to place its chemical weapons under international control for subsequent dismantling.

(From L) US President Barack Obama, Indonesias President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Russias President Vladimir Putin attend the first working meeting at the G20 in Saint Petersburg on September 5, 2013. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday after meeting with Russian parliament speaker that his government quickly "agreed to the Russian initiative."

Al-Moallem added that Syria did so to "uproot U.S. aggression."

His statement sounded more definitive than his remarks Monday, when he said that Damascus welcomed Russia's initiative.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia is now working with Syria to prepare a detailed plan of action, which will be presented shortly.

Lavrov said that Russia will then be ready to finalize the plan together with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

President Barack Obama said Monday the Russian proposal could be "potentially a significant breakthrough," but he remained skeptical that Syria would follow through.