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Almost half of Syria's chemical weapons removed - OPCW | Almost half of Syria's chemical weapons removed - OPCW |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Almost half of Syria's declared stockpile of chemical weapons has now been removed, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says. | Almost half of Syria's declared stockpile of chemical weapons has now been removed, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says. |
The latest consignment of the most dangerous chemicals was loaded on to cargo vessels at Latakia on Thursday, according to an OPCW statement. | |
A total of 11 consignments have been shipped, including all of Syria's sulphur mustard, a blister agent. | |
The OPCW aims to destroy or remove the country's entire arsenal by 30 June. | The OPCW aims to destroy or remove the country's entire arsenal by 30 June. |
The Syrian government approved the initiative last year after a chemical weapons attack outside Damascus left hundreds of people dead. | The Syrian government approved the initiative last year after a chemical weapons attack outside Damascus left hundreds of people dead. |
Revised schedule | Revised schedule |
The OPCW said three consignments of both "Priority 1" chemicals and less hazardous "Priority 2" chemicals have been shipped from Latakia over the past week. | |
The 11 consignments represent 49.3% of all the chemicals that must be removed from Syria for destruction, including 34.8% of Priority 1 chemicals and 82.6% of Priority 2 chemicals. | |
The OPCW said all stocks of sulphur mustard had now been removed. | The OPCW said all stocks of sulphur mustard had now been removed. |
Sulphur mustard is a "unitary" agent that is stored in a form that can be deployed immediately. In contrast, Syria's nerve agent sarin is thought to be stored in a "binary" manner, meaning it is kept as two distinct chemical precursors that are combined just before use. | Sulphur mustard is a "unitary" agent that is stored in a form that can be deployed immediately. In contrast, Syria's nerve agent sarin is thought to be stored in a "binary" manner, meaning it is kept as two distinct chemical precursors that are combined just before use. |
Although the OPCW-UN Joint Mission said earlier this month that "good progress" is being made in the removal of the chemical stockpile even though the Syrian government has missed a series of deadlines. | Although the OPCW-UN Joint Mission said earlier this month that "good progress" is being made in the removal of the chemical stockpile even though the Syrian government has missed a series of deadlines. |
The removal of Priority 1 chemicals was initially due by 31 December, while the deadline for the shipment of Priority 2 material was 5 February. | The removal of Priority 1 chemicals was initially due by 31 December, while the deadline for the shipment of Priority 2 material was 5 February. |
The Syrian government, which says the shipments have been delayed by security and logistical issues, has presented a revised schedule that aims to have them completed by 27 April. | The Syrian government, which says the shipments have been delayed by security and logistical issues, has presented a revised schedule that aims to have them completed by 27 April. |
Removing Syria's chemical weapons: How the plan will unfold | Removing Syria's chemical weapons: How the plan will unfold |
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