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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Libya 'destroys all chemical weapons' | Libya 'destroys all chemical weapons' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Libya has destroyed all its chemical arsenal, the country's foreign minister has announced. | Libya has destroyed all its chemical arsenal, the country's foreign minister has announced. |
| Mohamed Abdelaziz said that this included bombs and artillery shells filled with mustard gas. | Mohamed Abdelaziz said that this included bombs and artillery shells filled with mustard gas. |
| In 2004, Libya said it had 25 tonnes of sulphur mustard and several thousand unfilled aerial bombs for use with chemical warfare facilities. | In 2004, Libya said it had 25 tonnes of sulphur mustard and several thousand unfilled aerial bombs for use with chemical warfare facilities. |
| Tripoli has committed itself to getting rid of all its chemical arms by signing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). | Tripoli has committed itself to getting rid of all its chemical arms by signing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). |
| 'Significant milestone' | 'Significant milestone' |
| "Libya has become totally free of usable chemical weapons that might present a potential threat to the security of local communities, the environment and neighbouring areas," Mr Abdelaziz said on Tuesday in the capital Tripoli. | "Libya has become totally free of usable chemical weapons that might present a potential threat to the security of local communities, the environment and neighbouring areas," Mr Abdelaziz said on Tuesday in the capital Tripoli. |
| He added that this "would not have been possible in such a short time" without international support, including technical assistance from Canada, Germany and the US. | He added that this "would not have been possible in such a short time" without international support, including technical assistance from Canada, Germany and the US. |
| Libya's foreign minister said the process was completed on 26 January. | Libya's foreign minister said the process was completed on 26 January. |
| Mr Abdelaziz was speaking at a joint news conference with Ahmet Uzumcu, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). | |
| Mr Uzumcu - who had visited the site in Ruwagha where the chemical weapons were destroyed last week - described the move as a "significant milestone" for Libya. | Mr Uzumcu - who had visited the site in Ruwagha where the chemical weapons were destroyed last week - described the move as a "significant milestone" for Libya. |
| He added that it was a "good example of international co-operation now emulated in Syria on a larger scale". | He added that it was a "good example of international co-operation now emulated in Syria on a larger scale". |
| The process began 10 years ago under the then Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, when Tripoli joined the CWC. | The process began 10 years ago under the then Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, when Tripoli joined the CWC. |
| Gaddafi's government had succeeded in getting rid of 54% of its declared sulphur mustard and about 40% of the precursor chemicals before operations had to be suspended in February 2011 when the destruction facility stopped working. | Gaddafi's government had succeeded in getting rid of 54% of its declared sulphur mustard and about 40% of the precursor chemicals before operations had to be suspended in February 2011 when the destruction facility stopped working. |
| Gaddafi was ousted from power later that year, and the country's new rulers then told OPCW inspectors about the previously undeclared chemical stocks. | Gaddafi was ousted from power later that year, and the country's new rulers then told OPCW inspectors about the previously undeclared chemical stocks. |
| The arsenal destroyed by Libya falls under "Category 1 chemical weapons", the OPCW said. | The arsenal destroyed by Libya falls under "Category 1 chemical weapons", the OPCW said. |
| The organisation says such materials "have been used as chemical weapons in the past and/or have very few or no peaceful uses, and thus pose the most direct threat" to the CWC. | The organisation says such materials "have been used as chemical weapons in the past and/or have very few or no peaceful uses, and thus pose the most direct threat" to the CWC. |
| It added that the destruction of chemical precursors - Category 2 chemicals - was to be completed by Libya by December 2016. | It added that the destruction of chemical precursors - Category 2 chemicals - was to be completed by Libya by December 2016. |
| Precursors are defined as "chemicals involved in production stages for toxic chemicals". Most of these chemicals "have some industrial uses". | Precursors are defined as "chemicals involved in production stages for toxic chemicals". Most of these chemicals "have some industrial uses". |
| The OPCW is an independent international organisation which works with the UN to monitor the 1997 convention banning the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. | The OPCW is an independent international organisation which works with the UN to monitor the 1997 convention banning the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. |