THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The global chemical weapons watchdog is urging Syria to intensify efforts to get its stockpile of raw materials for poison gas and nerve agents to a port, so it can be shipped out of the country and destroyed.
The appeal was made Wednesday, a day after the first batch of toxic chemicals ”“ believed to be precursors for mustard gas and sarin ”“ was loaded onto a Danish cargo ship in the Syrian port of Latakia and shipped toward international waters.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons spokesman Michael Luhan says the Nobel Peace Prize-winning watchdog is “exhorting the Syrian government to intensify its efforts so we can conclude this critical part of this mission absolutely as fast as conditions allow.”
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less