Chemical weapons inspectors in Syria miss deadline

He made clear that any role for the OPCW-U.N. mission in the packing, safe transport, and possible removal of chemical agents from Syria “requires further consultation and review.” The joint mission will also need to identify areas where support may be required from U.N. member states and other organizations, he said.


State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States is reviewing Syria's declaration, which ran to more than 700 pages.

The OPCW-U.N. mission stems from a deadly chemical attack on rebel-held suburbs of Damascus in August that killed hundreds of people. Assad denied any role in the attack, while the U.S. and its allies blamed his government and threatened to carry out punitive missile strikes.

The U.S. and Russia then brokered an agreement for Syria to relinquish its chemical arsenal. Assad quickly agreed, and the deal was enshrined in a U.N. Security Council resolution which also endorsed a roadmap for a political transition in Syria, and called for a peace conference to be held in Geneva as soon as possible.

U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi traveled to Damascus Monday as part of his regional trip to try to drum up support for the conference.

Also Monday, Syrian government forces retook a Christian town north of Damascus, expelling al-Qaida-linked rebels after a week of heavy fighting, state media and opposition activists said.