Assad Scoffs: 'Anyone Can Make Sarin in His House'

Bashar al-Assad continues making the interview rounds and denying that his regime used chemical weapons. In the latest sit-down—conducted by Fox News, with former congressman Dennis Kucinich as one of the interviewers—the Syrian leader said it will take about a year to destroy his chemical stockpile, reports NPR. And while Assad agreed that a chemical attack took place last month and that it was "self-evident" to call it a war crime, he repeated his assertion that his troops weren't to blame. "Anyone can make sarin in his house," he said.

When Fox's Greg Palkot pressed him on the fact that only the Syrian army seems to have the high-quality sarin used and the rockets to deliver it, Assad replied, "All that you mention is not realistic and not true." In other Syria developments:

• US training: The Pentagon is considering a proposal to train and equip "moderate" Syrian rebel groups, reports CNN.
• War crimes trial? The top US official who deals with war crimes tells Yahoo News that Assad "absolutely" should face trial. “Without question, there are credible, very credible allegations of crimes against humanity, murder, rape, mutilation, other crimes,” says Stephen Rapp, US ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues.

(More Syria stories.)