Germany to destroy tons of Libya chemical weapons components
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German officials say about 500 metric tons (551 tons) of dual-use compounds from the chemicals weapons program of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will be destroyed by the end of the year.
The toxic chemicals are among the last from a stockpile that the international community feared could fall into the hands of extremist groups or rogue states after the fall of Gadhafi in 2011.
GEKA, a specialist company owned by the German state and based in Munster, south of Hamburg, is tasked with disposing of the chemicals.
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Defense ministry spokesman Boris Nannt said Friday that the destruction would be completed by December.
Libya had made a formal request to the U.N.-backed Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in July for international assistance to have the chemical weapons removed.