U.S. postpones meeting with Russia on Syria

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WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Aug. 27 -- The United States on Monday announced to postpone a meeting with Russia on Syria due to "ongoing consultations" over alleged use of chemical weapons in the Middle East country.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the meeting will be rescheduled, noting it is imperative that Washington and Moscow reach "a comprehensive and durable political solution" to the crisis in Syria.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday that it was regrettable that the meeting was canceled, adding that the United States had made the decision unilaterally.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday in The Hague between senior diplomats from the two countries, would have discussed plans for an international peace conference in Geneva to end Syria's conflict.

U.S. Under Secretary Wendy Sherman, U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford as well as Russian deputy foreign ministers Gennady Gatilov and Mikhail Bogdanov were to have been at the meeting.

The Syrian government slammed the allegations of chemical weapon use on Monday while the United States along with its Western allies move closer to a military intervention in the conflict-torn country.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the chemical weapons use against civilians in Syria is "inexcusable" and "undeniable," noting President Barack Obama will be making an informed decision on how to respond.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Monday that calls for military intervention in Syria will wipe out efforts to hold an international meeting for peaceful settlement of the crisis, urging them to "draft their policy not reactively but strategically."

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