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Syria chemical weapons: OPCW plea for short ceasefires Syria chemical weapons: OPCW plea for short ceasefires
(35 minutes later)
The head of the body tasked with destroying Syria's chemical weapons says fighting is preventing access to some sites through rebel-held areas.The head of the body tasked with destroying Syria's chemical weapons says fighting is preventing access to some sites through rebel-held areas.
Ahmet Uzumcu, of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, called for local, short-term ceasefires to allow experts to work.Ahmet Uzumcu, of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, called for local, short-term ceasefires to allow experts to work.
He told the BBC he hoped the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to the group last week, would help their work in Syria.He told the BBC he hoped the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to the group last week, would help their work in Syria.
Syria officially joins the Chemical Weapons Convention on Monday.Syria officially joins the Chemical Weapons Convention on Monday.
The OPCW and the UN have had a team of 60 experts and support staff in Syria since 1 October. They are based in Damascus and have been carrying regular visits to facilities.The OPCW and the UN have had a team of 60 experts and support staff in Syria since 1 October. They are based in Damascus and have been carrying regular visits to facilities.
Details of the visits have not been released. Syria is believed to possess mustard gas, as well as the sarin and VX nerve agents. In his first interview since the OPCW won the prize, Mr Uzumcu told the BBC's Today programme that Syrian officials had been co-operating and facilitating the experts' work.
In his first interview since the OPCW won the prize, director-general Mr Uzumcu told the BBC's Today programme that Syrian officials had been co-operating and facilitating the experts' work.
He said they had been taken wherever they wanted to go, and that they had already reached five out of at least 20 facilities capable of producing chemical weapons.He said they had been taken wherever they wanted to go, and that they had already reached five out of at least 20 facilities capable of producing chemical weapons.
However, Mr Uzumcu added that routes to some of the sites listed in Syria's declaration went through opposition-held territory. However, Mr Uzumcu said, routes to some of the sites went through opposition-held territory and this prevented access.
"They change hands from one day to another, which is why we appeal to all sides in Syria to support this mission, to be co-operative and not render this mission more difficult. It's already challenging," he said."They change hands from one day to another, which is why we appeal to all sides in Syria to support this mission, to be co-operative and not render this mission more difficult. It's already challenging," he said.
He added that mortar shells had fallen "next to the hotel where our team is staying and there are exchanges for fire not far from where they go". He said he had called for truces because "in the previous, UN-led mission to investigate allegations of use [of chemical weapons] there were temporary ceasefires of four or five hours which helped this mission".
He added that one abandoned site was located in a rebel-held area, and that his team was hoping to access it.
It is the first time the OPCW has worked in a war zone since it was set up in 1997.It is the first time the OPCW has worked in a war zone since it was set up in 1997.
Mr Uzumcu also said that on Saturday mortar shells had fallen "next to the hotel where our team is staying and there are exchanges for fire not far from where they go".
Details of the visits have not been released. Syria is believed to possess mustard gas, as well as the sarin and VX nerve agents.
'Morale boost''Morale boost'
Mr Uzumcu recently called for a ceasefire in Syria to enable his teams to destroy the stockpiles. Mr Uzumcu told the BBC his teams had been encouraged by the recognition that the Nobel prize had brought.
He told the BBC his teams had been encouraged by the recognition that the Nobel prize had brought.
"This came as a very big boost of morale to them," he said."This came as a very big boost of morale to them," he said.
"They are working in very challenging circumstances in the field. In awarding the prize they said it was about recognising the work of the past 16 years, but also the work that lies ahead, in Syria.""They are working in very challenging circumstances in the field. In awarding the prize they said it was about recognising the work of the past 16 years, but also the work that lies ahead, in Syria."
He added: "Of course the expectations are high."He added: "Of course the expectations are high."
The OPCW, based in The Hague, was established to enforce the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.The OPCW, based in The Hague, was established to enforce the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.
The body is made up of 189 member states and the principal role of its 500-strong staff is to monitor and destroy all existing chemical weapons.The body is made up of 189 member states and the principal role of its 500-strong staff is to monitor and destroy all existing chemical weapons.
The US-Russian disarmament deal on Syria's chemical weapons was sparked by a poison-gas attack in Damascus on 21 August in which hundreds were killed. The disarmament deal on Syria's chemical weapons was sparked by a poison-gas attack in Damascus on 21 August in which hundreds were killed.
Western nations blamed forces loyal to President Assad, but he blamed rebel fighters. Western nations blamed forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, but he blamed rebel fighters.
Syria later agreed to join the global Chemical Weapons Convention, and the UN said it would come under the treaty from 14 October.Syria later agreed to join the global Chemical Weapons Convention, and the UN said it would come under the treaty from 14 October.
Under a UN resolution, Syria's chemical weapons production equipment must be destroyed by 1 November and stockpiles must be disposed of by mid-2014.Under a UN resolution, Syria's chemical weapons production equipment must be destroyed by 1 November and stockpiles must be disposed of by mid-2014.