Panetta: US focused on Syria's chemical arms after Assad

The United States is increasingly focused on how to secure Syria's chemical weapons if President Bashar Assad falls from power but is not considering sending ground troops into the war-torn country, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday.

"I think the greater concern right now is what steps does the international community take to make sure that when Assad comes down, that there is a process and procedure to make sure we get our hands on securing those sites," Panetta told a news conference. "That I think is the greater challenge right now." (AFP)