Barack Obama has described a proposal for Syria to give up its chemical weapons stockpile as 'potentially positive'.

The President said he did discuss the idea with President Putin at last week's G20 summit in St Petersburg.

Meanwhile, the US Senate has postponed Wednesdays test vote on authorising US military strikes against Syria

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says it wouldn't be beneficial to hold the vote while international discussions continue regarding Syria's use of chemical weapons.

Reid says it's not important to "see how fast we can do this." He adds, "We have to see how well we can do this."

His action today comes amid increased opposition in the Senate to a U.S. military intervention in Syria.

Russia says it's urging Syria to avoid US military strikes by handing over its chemical weapons.

Moscow seized on what seemed a throw-away remark by Secretary of State John Kerry earlier.

Barack Obama has now taken to 6 TV networks to outline his reasons for action against the Assad regime.