This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/07/syria-chemical-weapons-material

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria hands over first batch of chemical weapons material Syria hands over first batch of chemical weapons material
(35 minutes later)
Syria has moved the first batch of chemical weapons material out of the country, the international chemical weapons watchdog has said.Syria has moved the first batch of chemical weapons material out of the country, the international chemical weapons watchdog has said.
The material was transported from two sites to the port city of Latakia where it was collected by a Danish ship.The material was transported from two sites to the port city of Latakia where it was collected by a Danish ship.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said: "The vessel has been accompanied by naval escorts provided by Denmark and Norway, as well as the Syrian Arab Republic. It will remain at sea awaiting the arrival of additional priority chemical materials at the port."The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said: "The vessel has been accompanied by naval escorts provided by Denmark and Norway, as well as the Syrian Arab Republic. It will remain at sea awaiting the arrival of additional priority chemical materials at the port."
Syria agreed to abandon its chemical weapons by June under a deal proposed by Russia and and agreed with the United States after an August 21 sarin gas attack that Western nations blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Damascus blamed rebels for the attack. Syria agreed to abandon its chemical weapons by June under a deal proposed by Russia and agreed with the US after a sarin gas attack on 21 August that western nations blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Damascus said rebels were responsible .
War, bad weather, bureaucracy and technical issues delayed a December 31 deadline for the removal of the most deadly toxins from Syria. War, bad weather, bureaucracy and technical issues delayed the 31 December deadline for the removal of the most deadly toxins from Syria.
The OPCW did not say what percentage of the "most critical" chemicals, including around 20 tonnes of mustard nerve agent, were on the Danish vessel.The OPCW did not say what percentage of the "most critical" chemicals, including around 20 tonnes of mustard nerve agent, were on the Danish vessel.
"A first quantity of priority chemical materials was moved from two sites to the port of Latakia for verification and was then loaded onto a Danish commercial vessel today," the OPCW statement said. It said that maritime security was being provided by Chinese, Danish, Norwegian and Russian ships. "A first quantity of priority chemical materials was moved from two sites to the port of Latakia for verification and was then loaded on to a Danish commercial vessel today," the OPCW statement said. It said maritime security was being provided by Chinese, Danish, Norwegian and Russian ships.
The Syrian government is responsible for the safe packaging, transport along roads to Latakia - including the main highway from the capital where rebels are still active - and removal of chemical weapons. The Syrian government is responsible for safe packaging, transport along roads to Latakia – including the main highway from the capital where rebels are still active – and removal of chemical weapons.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.