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Russian embassy in Damascus shelled, differences on security resolution persist

In the US-Russia brokered deal to manage Syria's chemical weapons, the UN security council remains divided on whether a resolution should include the threat of military force. On Sunday, a mortar shell struck the Russian embassy in Damascus injuring three.

听accused the West on Sunday of trying to exploit a chemical weapons deal with听听to push through a U.N. resolution threatening force against President听.

听has handed over information about its chemical arsenal to a U.N.-backed weapons watchdog, meeting the first deadline of the ambitious U.S.-听accord which the U.N. Security Council is due to endorse in the coming days.

But major powers on the council, who have disagreed throughout a conflict which has killed 100,000 people, remain divided over how to ensure compliance with the accord.

罢丑别听,听听and Britain want a council resolution issued under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which could authorize sanctions or military intervention if听听reneges on its commitments.

, which along with听听has blocked three draft resolutions on听听since the 2011 uprising against Assad erupted, opposes Western threats of force against an ally which听听has continued to arm and support during the civil war.

"They see in the U.S.-Russian deal not a chance to save the planet from significant quantities of chemical weapons in听, but as a chance to do what听听补苍诲听听will not allow, namely to push through a resolution involving (the threat of) force against the regime and shielding the opposition," Russian Foreign Minister听听said.

Lavrov also said听听was ready to send troops to听听to ensure the safety of U.N. chemical weapons inspectors.

"An international presence is needed on the perimeters of the areas where the experts will work," he said. "We are willing to send our troops and military police to participate.

"I do not think that there is a need for a major contingent. I think military observers will be sufficient."

Assad agreed to destroy听's chemical weapons after a sarin gas strike in听听suburbs last month - the world's deadliest chemical attack in 25 years.

Washington accused Assad's forces of carrying out the attack, which it said killed more than 1,400 people. It said a report by U.N. chemical weapons experts last week supported its view - an assertion which听听disputes.

Assad blamed rebels for the attack, saying it made no sense for his forces to use chemical weapons when they were gaining the upper hand and while U.N. chemical inspectors were staying in central听.

听said Lavrov spoke by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State听听on Sunday about efforts to implement the disposal of听's chemical weapons.

A State Department official said the听听and other member states on the council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, had not yet seen the information given to the U.N.-backed watchdog by.

"We will make an evaluation of the document after it has been distributed to member states," the official said.听

HOPES FOR PEACE TALKS

While the chemical deal paves the way to the destruction of 1,000 tonnes of mustard gas, VX and sarin which security experts believe听听possesses, the rare instance of U.S.-Russian cooperation has also raised hopes of a revived international push for a political solution to the wider Syrian conflict.

A letter seen by Reuters on Sunday from the head of the听,听, to the U.N. Security Council revealed he had committed his group for the first time to attend a proposed听听peace conference - on condition that it aimed to establish a transitional government with full powers.

The coalition had resisted pressure to go to听, especially after the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack.

Jarba's comments mean that both听听and the main political opposition have agreed in principle to attend the peace talks. However their conditions for participation still appear far from reconcilable.

Rebels and the political opposition insist Assad can play no role in a transitional authority, while the government has ruled out conceding power to its opponents.

Jarba's coalition also has very limited influence over the fighters inside听, particularly the increasingly powerful Islamist brigades and al Qaeda-linked groups.

The rebels, fighting to end 40 years of Assad family rule, were angered by the U.S.-Russian accord to eliminate's chemical weapons, saying it has distracted the world while Assad deploys a large conventional arsenal to crush his foes.

They had hoped the听听would launch air strikes against Assad which they could use as a platform to retake territory from Assad's forces after they were forced on the defensive on several fronts in recent months.

In central听, a mortar shell struck the Russian embassy compound on Sunday, wounding three employees, the听听said. None of the injuries were serious, it said in a statement.