ROME (REUTERS) - Syria will respect United Nations (UN) accords on chemical weapons, President Bashar al-Assad told Italian television station RaiNews24 on Sunday.

"We joined the international agreement against the acquisition and use of chemical weapons even before this resolution was passed," he said when asked if Syria would comply with Friday's resolution.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday that demands the eradication of Syria's chemical weapons but does not threaten automatic punitive action against Mr Assad's government if it does not comply.