Syria: President Putin issues Plea to the United States

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people in an national newspaper. Mr Putin has written an opinion article in the New York Times, in which he warns that a U.S military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism. He says millions of people see the US as relying on brute force, and not as a model of democracy. He also warns that the UN could suffer the same fate as its precursor, the League of nations, if "influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council Authorization". He added that a US attack would potentially spread the conflict far beyond Syria's borders and it could "throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance". Mr Putin said Russia was not protecting the Syrian government, but was "defending international law". The United States and Russia are due to hold talks in Geneva later over Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. Russia - a ally of Syria and President Assad - has proposed putting the weapons under international control before destroying them. The Syrian government has partially agreed to the proposal, and US President Barack Obama has agreed to look into the proposal, but has said he remains sceptical about Syria's supposed support for the idea.