OPCW finished verification of 11 sites in Syria

OPCW finished verification of 11 sites in Syria
Wed Oct 16, 2013 22:23:34

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has visited 11 sites in Syria in line with a disarmament mission in the Arab country.

“The OPCW mission has now conducted verification activities at a total of 11 sites that are identified by Syria’s disclosure,” the Hague-based Organization said in statement issued on Wednesday.

“Activities have also included critical equipment destruction at six sites as well,” the statement added.

The statement has said that a total of 20 chemical sites will be visited in the Arab country.

Some 60 OPCW and UN experts are in Syria to implement a UN resolution on scrapping the Syrian chemical arsenal. The United Nations Security Council approved the resolution on September 27.

The team has until November 1 to inspect the chemical weapons arsenals declared by the Syrian government and supervise the destruction of the related facilities.

On September 14, Russia and the United States agreed on a deal according to which Syria would have its chemical weapons stockpiles eliminated and the US would in return not carry out planned strikes on the Middle Eastern country.

The agreement came after days of mounted war rhetoric against Syria by the US and some of its allies, which blamed Damascus for a fatal chemical attack on the outskirts of the Syrian capital on August 21.

Damascus has vehemently denied the accusations, saying the attack was carried out by the militants operating inside the country as a false-flag operation.

Syria has been gripped by deadly turmoil since 2011.

According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions of others displaced in the violence.

Reports indicate that Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.

SHI/SHI

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