U.N. draft resolution calls for removal of Syria’s chemical arms program

France submitted on Friday a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council for the deployment of inspectors in Syria to “oversee the dismantlement and destruction of all elements” of the country’s chemical weapons program.

The French draft resolution, obtained by Al Arabiya, demands the Syrian government to provide unfettered access to its chemical weapons sites and allow international inspectors to make surprise visits to locations of their choice.

This, according to the document, is to ensure that there is no more production, use or transfer of chemical weapons.

The draft resolution also calls for deploying a U.N. mission in Syria to investigate the use of chemical weapons and refer the perpetrators to the International Criminal Court.

The draft resolution states that if Syria does not comply with the measures it will be subject to further measures under Chapter VII of the Security Council, which authorizes the use of military force.

A senior U.S. official had said that the resolution would not include the potential use of military force due to Russian opposition.

The officials, who briefed a group of reporters on condition of anonymity, said the United States would instead insist that the resolution include a range of consequences should Syria refuse to give up chemical weapons in a verifiable way, according to Reuters.

Those consequences could include sanctions, one official said.

Independently of the United Nations, U.S. President Barack Obama has threatened the use of force in response to an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria that U.S. officials say killed around 1,400 people. Officials said he still retains that option.