Expert: Syria has dumped 86 percent of chemical weapons
Watchdog agency gives promising report despite Damascus missing several interim deadlines
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AMSTERDAM — Syria’s government has disposed of more than 86 percent of its total chemical weapons stockpile, according to the watchdog agency charged with overseeing its removal.
Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Syria had just surrendered another batch of raw materials used for making chemical weapons.
He said in a statement Tuesday that cargo ships at Syria’s main port, Latakia, received the latest chemical consignment and delivered it to a US ship offshore. There, the chemicals are neutralized under supervision by the watchdog’s experts.
Syria has missed several deadlines for progress specified in last year’s agreed timetable to eradicate its poison gas and nerve agent program by June 30. It insists it will meet the final deadline.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
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