Syria's Assad Says He'll Comply With UN Resolution

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he will comply with a UN Security Council resolution and destroy his regime's chemical arsenal.

In his first public comments since the resolution was passed on September 27, Assad also told Italian television that warming relations between Washington and Iran could benefit Damascus and the region "so long as the United States is honest."

But he said most European countries are "unable" to play a role in a Geneva peace conference planned for November.

About 20 inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is due in Damascus on October 1.

A member of that team said there is "no reason to doubt" information provided by Assad’s regime about its chemical arsenal.

The team hopes to draft a comprehensive report on Syria by late October.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, SANA, Rai News 24