WASHINGTON (AA) - Russia has put its credibility on the line with its new plan for a diplomatic solution to Syria's chemical weapons crisis, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Thursday.
"Russia, as we saw just now in Geneva, has put its prestige and credibility on the line in backing this proposal to have Syria, the Assad regime, give up the chemical weapons that, until two days ago, he claimed it did not have, turn them over to international supervision with the purpose of eventually destroying them," Carney said.
"This is significant. Russia is Assad's patron and protector, and the world will note whether Russia can follow through on the commitments that it's made."
In response to a renewed allegation on Syrian opposition responsibility for last month's gas attack, which Russian President Vladimir Putin cited in his op-ed on the New York Times, Carney said Russia was "isolated and alone in blaming the opposition."
"There is no credible reporting and we have seen no credible reporting that the opposition has used chemical weapons in Syria, and we have been joined by now 34 countries in declaring that the Assad regime is responsible for the use of chemical weapons on that night.
"Even Iran, which is fighting on Assad's behalf in Syria, has publicly blamed the Assad regime for the August 21 attack."
Carney said the US would continue to support the opposition.
"We are exploring this diplomatic avenue, this opportunity that exists, potentially, to resolve this by removing from Assad's possession chemical weapons.
"But we will continue our policy of supporting the opposition, in an effort to bring about a political settlement in the Syrian conflict."
