AFP, The Hague :
Syria has begun destroying its remaining chemical weapons production sites, despite being hampered by bad weather and logistical problems, the world’s chemical watchdog said on Monday.
“Destruction operations commenced in December,” Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) spokesman Peter Sawczak told AFP in The Hague, without elaborating.
Syria had said previously demolition of the 12 hangars and tunnels would begin in November, but work stalled when the contractor pulled out.
Two other Syrian companies were given the project but the firm tasked with destroying five tunnels had to wait for deliveries of explosives and equipment, Syria told the United Nations in November, after running months behind schedule.
The OPCW, which is overseeing the dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, in July gave Damascus 60 days to finish demolishing the sites.
“The destruction has began. They are starting on the tunnels,” confirmed a Hague-based source on Monday, asking not to be named.
Syria has begun destroying its remaining chemical weapons production sites, despite being hampered by bad weather and logistical problems, the world’s chemical watchdog said on Monday.
“Destruction operations commenced in December,” Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) spokesman Peter Sawczak told AFP in The Hague, without elaborating.
Syria had said previously demolition of the 12 hangars and tunnels would begin in November, but work stalled when the contractor pulled out.
Two other Syrian companies were given the project but the firm tasked with destroying five tunnels had to wait for deliveries of explosives and equipment, Syria told the United Nations in November, after running months behind schedule.
The OPCW, which is overseeing the dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, in July gave Damascus 60 days to finish demolishing the sites.
“The destruction has began. They are starting on the tunnels,” confirmed a Hague-based source on Monday, asking not to be named.
