Putin: Syria plan can only work 'if US rejects force'

A Russian proposal for Syria to place its stock of chemical weapons under international control will not succeed unless the United States and its allies reject the use of force against Damascus, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

The Russian President said the proposal "can work only if we hear that the American side and all those who support the United States in this sense reject the use of force," in televised remarks.

He said he hoped the plan "will be a good step toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis".