DHAKA: US president Barack Obama has postponed a congressional vote on military action in Syria, vowing to pursue diplomacy to remove the regime’s chemical weapons.

Damascus has admitted for the first time that it has chemical weapons, and has agreed to abide by a Russian plan to hand over its arsenal.

The US threatened strikes after a gas attack killed hundreds last month.

Obama blames the regime and said the military would respond if talks failed. Syria blames rebels for the attack.

More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against president Bashar al-Assad began in 2011.

The latest report by UN rights experts, released on Wednesday, says torture and rape are widespread and war crimes are being committed by both sides, reports the BBC.

BDST: 1850 HRS, SEPT 11, 2013
RoR/RIS