Syria's Ambassador Houssam-Eddin Ala, left, President of the Conference on Disarmament, listens to Marco Kalbusch, Secretary of the CD, prior to the opening of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP Photo
US Ambassador Robert Wood walks out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
The seat of US Disarmament Ambassador remains empty in protest against Syrian presidency at the Conference on Disarmament, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
US Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood speaks to the media during prior the Conference on Disarmament under Syrian presidency, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
US Ambassador Robert Wood and members of the delegations walk out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
US Ambassador Robert Wood and members of the delegations stand in the corridor after walking out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
US Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood and members of delegations stand in the corridor after leaving the conference in protest against Syrian presidency at the Conference on Disarmament, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
Syria's Ambassador Houssam-Eddin Ala, left, President of the Conference on Disarmament, listens to Marco Kalbusch, Secretary of the CD, prior to the opening of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP Photo
US Ambassador Robert Wood walks out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
The seat of US Disarmament Ambassador remains empty in protest against Syrian presidency at the Conference on Disarmament, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
US Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood speaks to the media during prior the Conference on Disarmament under Syrian presidency, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
US Ambassador Robert Wood and members of the delegations walk out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
US Ambassador Robert Wood and members of the delegations stand in the corridor after walking out in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Denis Balibouse / Reuters
US Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood and members of delegations stand in the corridor after leaving the conference in protest against Syrian presidency at the Conference on Disarmament, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA
Syria's Ambassador Houssam-Eddin Ala, left, President of the Conference on Disarmament, listens to Marco Kalbusch, Secretary of the CD, prior to the opening of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP Photo
US walks out as Syria takes lead of UN disarmament body
The CD chair rotates alphabetically every four weeks and Syria's turn came around on Monday
