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Russian lorries to transport Syria chemical weapons | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Syria's chemical weapons will be taken out of the country by Russian armoured lorries before being destroyed at sea, the international watchdog says. | |
They will be transported from 12 sites around Syria to the port of Latakia for loading onto Danish and Norwegian ships, the OPCW has outlined. | They will be transported from 12 sites around Syria to the port of Latakia for loading onto Danish and Norwegian ships, the OPCW has outlined. |
Shipped to an Italian port, they will then be loaded on to a specially modified US Navy ship to be destroyed. | Shipped to an Italian port, they will then be loaded on to a specially modified US Navy ship to be destroyed. |
The OPCW said it was "making progress against heavy odds". | The OPCW said it was "making progress against heavy odds". |
Director general Ahmet Uzumcu said the original deadline of 31 December to rid Syria of its most dangerous chemicals had been disrupted by a "combination of security concerns, clearance procedures in international transit and even inclement weather". | Director general Ahmet Uzumcu said the original deadline of 31 December to rid Syria of its most dangerous chemicals had been disrupted by a "combination of security concerns, clearance procedures in international transit and even inclement weather". |
Heavy fighting on the main road between Damascus and Homs posed "risks to the timely execution of the operation", he also warned. | Heavy fighting on the main road between Damascus and Homs posed "risks to the timely execution of the operation", he also warned. |
But he confirmed at a meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' Executive Council that "the major elements of a transportation and destruction plan are in place". | But he confirmed at a meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' Executive Council that "the major elements of a transportation and destruction plan are in place". |
International outrage | International outrage |
The plan, seen by the BBC, says US satellite equipment and Chinese surveillance cameras will track the progress of Russian armoured lorries as they carry the dangerous weapons to Latakia. | |
Danish and Norwegian frigates, currently positioned in Cyprus, will take the chemicals from Latakia to an unnamed port in Italy. | Danish and Norwegian frigates, currently positioned in Cyprus, will take the chemicals from Latakia to an unnamed port in Italy. |
Then the containers - carrying mustard gas and sarin among other chemicals - will be loaded onto the unnamed US Navy ship and taken out into international waters before being destroyed in a specially created titanium tank on board. | Then the containers - carrying mustard gas and sarin among other chemicals - will be loaded onto the unnamed US Navy ship and taken out into international waters before being destroyed in a specially created titanium tank on board. |
The OPCW has set a deadline of 31 March 2014 to destroy Syria's most dangerous chemical weapons, and all of its chemical by 30 June 2014. | The OPCW has set a deadline of 31 March 2014 to destroy Syria's most dangerous chemical weapons, and all of its chemical by 30 June 2014. |
A confirmed sarin attack in Damascus on 21 August, which killed hundreds, provoked international outrage and led to a US-Russia deal to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014. | A confirmed sarin attack in Damascus on 21 August, which killed hundreds, provoked international outrage and led to a US-Russia deal to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014. |
UN inspectors said in a report earlier this month that they believed chemical weapons were "probably used" at five sites in Syria. | UN inspectors said in a report earlier this month that they believed chemical weapons were "probably used" at five sites in Syria. |
More than 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting that has ravaged Syria for two-and-a-half years, according to the UN. | More than 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting that has ravaged Syria for two-and-a-half years, according to the UN. |
A further two million people have fled Syria and some 4.5 million have been displaced internally. | A further two million people have fled Syria and some 4.5 million have been displaced internally. |