A team of 20 international inspectors who were issued the task to ensure that Syria chemical weapons are destroyed crossed the border into the Arab country on October 1st.
A UN official from the international mission praised Damascus for starting to destroy its toxic weapons arsenal very seriously.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that Damascus had made an excellent start on Sunday, and the United States acknowledged its rapid compliance with a UN resolution on destroying chemical weapons as extremely significant.
Chemicals experts were overseeing a second day of work on Monday, which the official described as similar to Sunday's when Syrian forces used cutting torches and angle grinders to render missile warheads, bombs and mixing equipment unusable.
However, he noted that this was the start of work that is due to last until mid-2014 and requires the cooperation of all sides. "It was an excellent first day, with the stress on the word 'first'," the official told Reuters by telephone from Damascus.
The responsible team consists of engineers, chemists and paramedics, alongside some members of other professions.
SHI/SHI
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