A French official says tense negotiations have begun on a proposed U.N. resolution that would put Syria's chemical weapons under international control and end a diplomatic stalemate over a deadly Aug. 21 poison gas attack.

Protesters gather in front of the White House
Protesters gather in front of the White House (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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The official close to the French president, who spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations remained sensitive, said Russia objected not only to making the resolution militarily enforceable, but also to blaming the Aug. 21 attack on the Syrian government and demanding that those responsible be taken before an international criminal court.

The official would not offer a timeframe for the resolution. It hasn't been formally proposed.

The surprise Russian proposal was accepted by both Syria and the United States and eventually would see the stockpile dismantled.


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