David Cameron has cautiously welcomed a proposal for Syria to hand its chemical weapons over for destruction.
Under the Russian plan, apparently welcomed by Syria's foreign minister, the stockpiles would first be taken under international control.
The UK PM said this would be a "big step forward" if the plan was genuine.
US President Barack Obama said he would put plans for a US military strike on hold if the country agreed to place its stockpiles under international control.
Mr Obama described the idea - in response to the Syrian government's suspected use of chemical weapons on civilians - as a "potential breakthrough", but said he was sceptical the Syrian government would follow through.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem, welcomed his country's proposal.
The US accuses Damascus of war crimes including thue use of chemical weapons, allegations denied by the regime.
'Distraction tactic'Updating MPs with a Commons statement on the G20 summit in Russia, Mr Cameron said: "If Syria were to put its chemical weapons beyond use under international supervision, clearly that would be a big step forward and should be encouraged.
"I think we have to be careful though to make sure this is not a distraction tactic to discuss something else rather than the problem on the table, but if it is a genuine offer, then it should be genuinely looked at."
He also told MPs that he believed a political settlement was the only way to end the conflict in Syria.
The crisis, which began when anti-government protests were brutally suppressed, has left about 100,000 dead and forced more than two million Syrians to flee the country.
The suspected chemical weapons attack in Damascus on 21 August killed more than 1,400, according to US authorities, entrenching divisions among world leaders on how to respond.
The US has said that the use of chemical weapons crosses a "global red line", and President Obama is seeking approval from Congress for military action in response to the attack.
He gave a series of television interviews on Monday aimed at building support among Congress, as he maintained a limited strike was needed to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Key Syria ally Russia has been highly critical of plans to intervene, arguing that there is no proof the Syrian government was behind the attack, and warning of "catastrophic consequences" of military intervention.
'Jaws dropped'While Mr Cameron conceded there was "never going to be unanimity" on Syria at last week's summit in St Petersburg, those who supported a strong response following chemical weapons attacks on civilians by the Assad's regime made an "extremely powerful" case, he said.
"I am clear that it was right to advocate a strong response to the indiscriminate gassing of men, women and children in Syria and to make that case here in the chamber," the PM said.
He said he understood and respected the House of Commons' recent decision to vote against intervention, so the UK would not be part of any military action but would continue to press for the strongest possible response, including at the UN.
But shadow chancellor Ed Balls told Channel 4 news that "jaws dropped" when Mr Cameron ruled out UK military action in Syria.
Mr Balls insisted Labour would be prepared to revisit the issue if Mr Cameron were able to present new evidence to MPs.
"But he is the prime minister - he has got to lead," the shadow chancellor said.
Meanwhile, Business Secretary Vince Cable was accused of allowing the export to Syria of chemicals which could be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons, in breach of the government's own policy.
Sir John Stanley, the chairman of the Commons Committees on Arms Export Controls, said the export licences, issued in January 2012, should never have been approved.
He called on Mr Cable to release the name of the company involved, declaring that he could no longer hide behind the need for commercial confidentiality.
In correspondence with the committee, Mr Cable had said the licences for the export of sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride were granted after an assessment in relation to both EU and UK rules - including whether there was a "clear risk that they might be used for internal repression" - and concluded there were no grounds for refusal.
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