Syria militants say want US war, not deal

Syria’s foreign-backed opposition says the United States should launch a war against Damascus and reject a Russian proposal for peace.

The so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) said in a statement issued on Tuesday that Washington should go ahead with its military offensive against Syria to provide the militants a chance to win against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

“A violation of international law should lead to an international retaliation that is proportional in size,” the group said, referring to a chemical weapons attack that allegedly killed hundreds of people in the suburbs of Damascus last month.

“We don’t trust the Russians,” said Najib Ghadbian, an SNC representative to the US.

Earlier in the day, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Damascus is ready to implement a Russian proposal to place its chemical weapons arsenal under international control.

The Russian government proposed the initiative during a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Muallem in Moscow on Monday.

“We want to join the convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons. We are ready to observe our obligations in accordance with that convention, including providing all information about these weapons,” Muallem said.

In response, US President Barack Obama asked Congress to delay a vote on authorizing military action against Syria in order to give the Russian proposal a chance to play out.

The war rhetoric against Syria intensified after foreign-backed opposition forces accused the Assad government of launching the chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21.

Damascus has vehemently denied the accusations, saying the attack was carried out by the militants themselves as a false-flag operation.