U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday said that Washington won't wait for long for a Russian proposal to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control.

"We're waiting for that proposal. But we're not waiting for long," Kerry said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Syria. "It has to be swift. It has to be real. It has to be verifiable," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed on Monday that Syria should "place its chemical weapons stockpiles under international control so they can be destroyed." The proposal received positive response from Syria, while U.S. President Barack Obama also called it a "potentially positive development."

Kerry said he is to discuss the issue on Tuesday afternoon with Lavrov, with the Russian side "supposed to make a proposal to us."

The Obama administration has been pushing for a military strike on Syria over Damascus' alleged used of chemical weapons in fightings with the armed opposition. The Syrian government has denied any use of such weapons, and Russia firmly opposes any foreign military intervention without UN authorization.

Media reports said that the Obama administration will begin working with allies at the United Nations on Tuesday to explore the viability of the Russian plan.

Obama also spoke on Tuesday morning with President Francois Hollande of France and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, and the White House is still making the case to U.S. lawmakers that they should grant Obama the authorization to use force against Syria, thus providing a military backing to any possible deal. Endi

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