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Assad doesn't rule out US attack despite agreeing to destroy chemical weapon stockpile

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ANI Melbourne

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he does not rule out the possibility of a United States military intervention, even after attack threats have stopped amid agreement to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles.

In an interview with Venezuela's Telesur network, Assad said his government has strong evidence confirming rebels had carried out the attack on Damascus suburbs on August 21, the Age reports.

Assad claimed he has confessions from rebels that they brought chemical weapons into the nation.

Syrian authorities had uncovered chemical arms stockpiles and laboratories, and handed over the evidence to Russia, after which President Barack Obama was persuaded for the diplomatic deal and urged to withdraw military action threats, he added.

 

Earlier, Assad had warned the United Nations chemical inspectors of a possible terrorist attack to block access to the government's chemical arsenal.

Although Obama confirmed at the UN that he would not use military force to depose Assad, Washington and Moscow have still not been able to decide how to hold Syria accountable, if it does not cooperate to dismantle its chemical weapons stockpile.

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First Published: Sep 26 2013 | 9:37 AM IST

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