The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons executive committee met on Friday in The Hague to discuss the joint OPCW and UN mission.

The first date set for elimination of the weapons was Feb. 5. The final deadline under the OPCW plan is for all of Syria's declared chemical materials to be destroyed by June 30.

A senior UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the international mission believes the operation can be carried out before the end of March, adding that the proposed end-May deadline may cause delay in the chemicals being destroyed before the end of June.

The OPCW declined to comment on Syria's proposal.

Syria has repeatedly announced that it is committed to destroying the weapons as it is also concerned about the weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

The Syrian government agreed to give up its chemical weapons under a US-Russia deal signed in September last year, following an Auguest chemical attack near Damascus which the US tried to blame on the Syrian government.

A US plan to bomb Syria over the attack which Syrian government said was carried out by militants as a false-flag operation, was averted by Russia’s mediation that offered putting Syria’s chemicals under international control.

SHI/SHI