Syria chemical weapons: UN's Ban welcomes 'hopeful news'

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a binding resolution on ridding Syria of chemical weapons.

At a session in New York, the 15-member body backed the draft document agreed earlier by Russia and the US.

The deal breaks a two-and-a-half year deadlock in the UN over Syria, where fighting between government forces and rebels rages on.

Speaking after the vote in New York, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the decision as "historic" and and the "first hopeful news on Syria in a long time".