White House has 'scepticism over credibility of Assad regime'

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday the US government would study the proposal, but had scepticism over the credibility of the Assad regime. Carney, answering the questions from reporters during the daily press briefing at the White House, said "In an interview earlier, Assad refused to even acknowledge that he has chemical weapons. Of course, the whole world knows he does." Fielding numerous questions about President Barack Obama's push for Congressional approval for limited military strikes against the Syrian government after President Bashar al-Assad allegedly used chemical weapons against his own people, Carney promised that the US would continue to push for strikes because the credible threat of military action was vital in putting pressure on the Assad regime. Lavrov had urged Syrian regime to put its chemical weapons stockpile under "international surveillance" if this would avert any military intervention by saying: "If the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in that country would allow avoiding strikes, we will immediately start working with Damascus." The US said it was sceptical, but would have a "hard look" at the plan.