Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is not 100 percent certain that a plan for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons would be carried out successfully -- but he sees reason to hope it will.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:
"Syria announced that it is ready to join, not only ready, but it already considers itself a member of the Chemical Weapons Convention. These are practical steps the Syrian government has already taken. Whether it will be able to bring this process to the end, I cannot be 100 percent sure, but everything we have seen until now in the last days gives me confidence that it is is possible, and that it will be done."
In an interview with Fox TV Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied that his government was behind last month's chemical weapons attack.
Putin also says he strongly believes the attack was staged by rebel forces.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:
"We
