The US president was accused of being "indecisive" and allowing himself to be outmanoeuvred by Russia and Iran, Mr Assad's strongest international backers, over the deal. It gives Mr Assad until the middle of next year to hand over his chemical weapons stocks for destruction.
The Assad regime was quick to claim the agreement as a "victory", but Mr Obama said the threat of military action was still on the table.
He said the US was no longer in a "Cold War" with Russia and that he welcomed President Vladimir Putin's "involvement" in Syria. "I welcome him saying, 'I will take responsibility for pushing my client, the Assad regime, to deal with these chemical weapons'," he said.
Until now, administration officials have presented Russian involvement in a wholly negative light, highlighting Moscow's repeated use of the veto to prevent anti-Assad resolutions passing the UN security council.
Under the deal announced on Saturday, Mr Assad has a week to provide a list of all his chemical weapons, delivery systems and storage facilities, and until November to allow full UN inspection. The first date in particular is much quicker than the 30 days expected. » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent, Damien McElroy and Nick Allen | Sunday, September 16, 2013
