Spain gives Catalan President new deadline to clarify independence bid

The Spanish government on Monday gave Catalonia's leader three extra days to formally declare whether his region will seek independence -- a prospect that has been in limbo since last week.

U.S. warns Russia on Ukraine ultimatum / Russian Defense Ministry dismisses Ukraine ultimatum reports as ‘total nonsense’

Any Russian ultimatum to Ukraine threatening a possible attack would be a “dangerous escalation” of the tensions in Crimea, a U.S. official said Monday after source in the Ukrainian defense ministry said Moscow did give his country a warning.
Washington was working to find out if Moscow has demanded Ukrainian leaders surrender or face an all-out assault.
“If true” it would be “a dangerous escalation of the situation and we would hold Russia directly responsible,” Agence France-Presse quoted a State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki as saying.

Russia has asked Syria to put its chemical weapons stockpile under "international control" in a bid to avoid US military strikes, and then have them destroyed. Mr Muallem, Syria, said he welcomed the initiative.

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Заявление Министра иностранных дел России С.В.Лаврова для СМИ в связи с ситуацией вокруг сирийского химоружия, Москва, 9 сентября 2013 года...