This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/world/middleeast/syria-chemicals.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
American Ship to Load Syrian Chemicals for Destruction at Sea American Ship to Load Syrian Chemicals for Destruction at Sea
(about 4 hours later)
LONDON — A specially equipped United States vessel, the MV Cape Ray, was set on Wednesday to begin loading toxic chemicals at an Italian port for destruction at sea in the latest phase of an operation to remove and destroy some 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical weapons. LONDON — A specially equipped United States vessel, the Cape Ray, on Wednesday began loading toxic chemicals at an Italian port for destruction at sea in the latest phase of an operation to remove and destroy some 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical weapons.
The police had sealed off the port of Gioia Tauro in southern Italy to create a security zone around the transfer of the cargo from a Dutch vessel, the Ark Futura, which took the last of Syria’s known supplies of chemical substances on board nine days ago in the Syrian port of Latakia. The chemicals include mustard gas and raw materials for the nerve agent sarin. The police had sealed off the port of Gioia Tauro in southern Italy to create a security zone around the transfer of the cargo from a Dutch vessel, the Ark Futura, which took the last of Syria’s known supplies of chemical substances on board nine days ago in the Syrian port of Latakia. The chemicals included mustard gas and raw materials for the nerve agent sarin.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which has been overseeing the project, called the latest developments a major achievement in a country engulfed by civil war. Under pressure from Russia, its main international patron, and the United States, Syria agreed to the removal of the toxins after chemical weapons killed hundreds of people in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus last August. News reports said the operation to transfer the chemicals in containers from one ship to another began on Wednesday and could take most of a day.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which has been overseeing the project, called the latest developments a major achievement for a country engulfed by civil war. Under pressure from Russia, its main international patron, and from the United States, Syria agreed to the removal of the toxins after chemical weapons killed hundreds of people in an attack on the outskirts of Damascus last August.
Each side in the war blamed the other for the attack, but the Obama administration and its allies said President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had been responsible. An American threat of airstrikes was averted by the Russian-American deal to dispose of the chemical stockpile.Each side in the war blamed the other for the attack, but the Obama administration and its allies said President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had been responsible. An American threat of airstrikes was averted by the Russian-American deal to dispose of the chemical stockpile.
News reports from Gioia Tauro said the Ark Futura steamed into port there early Wednesday, a day after the MV Cape Ray — a gray-hulled 648-foot cargo ship — docked in the same port. The ship has been equipped with two machines known as Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems, news reports said, to neutralize some of the chemical stockpile once the Cape Ray reaches international waters. News reports from Gioia Tauro said the Ark Futura steamed into port there early Wednesday, a day after the Cape Ray — a gray-hulled, 648-foot cargo ship — docked in the same port. The Cape Ray has been equipped with two machines known as Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems, news reports said, to neutralize some of the chemical stockpile once the ship reaches international waters.
Destruction of some toxins has started in Finland and, apart from operations aboard the Cape Ray, facilities in the United States, Britain and Germany will also be used to destroy some weapons. Destruction of some toxins has started in Finland and, apart from operations aboard the Cape Ray, facilities in the United States, Britain and Germany will also be used to destroy some of the stockpile.
Repeated delays in the removal of the chemicals meant that a June 30 deadline for their destruction was not met, since it will now take two to four months for the entire stockpile to be rendered harmless.Repeated delays in the removal of the chemicals meant that a June 30 deadline for their destruction was not met, since it will now take two to four months for the entire stockpile to be rendered harmless.
Additionally, the O.P.C.W. has stopped short of declaring Syria free of all chemical weapons. The organization, based in The Hague, said last week that verification work was incomplete and said that the Syrian authorities have not yet fulfilled pledges to dismantle a dozen facilities used for making and mixing chemical munitions. The chemical weapons group is also investigating suspected use of chlorine gas bombs in the conflict. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has stopped short of declaring Syria free of all chemical weapons. The organization, based in The Hague, said last week that verification work was incomplete and that the Syrian authorities have not yet fulfilled pledges to dismantle a dozen facilities used for making and mixing chemical munitions. The organization is also investigating suspected use of chlorine gas bombs in the conflict.