The White House on Tuesday agreed to talks in the United Nations on the Russian proposal to put Syrian chemical weapons under international control, U.S. media reports said.

The New York Times quoted a senior White House official as saying the administration will begin working with its allies at the United Nations Tuesday to explore the viability of a Russian plan to avert a U.S. military strike on Syria by having the international community take control of the Arab country's chemical weapons stockpile.

The report said President Barack Obama spoke Tuesday morning with President Francois Hollande of France and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, before he made the decision to work through the UN.

Obama on Monday night welcomed a Russian proposal to put Syrian chemical weapons under international control, saying it is a " potentially positive development," while signaling his willingness to pause military strike if Syria complies, as the White House's all-out push to persuade Congress to authorize force stalled. Endi