Libya, watchdog agency say all toxic chemical weapons from Gadhafi-era stocks destroyed

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libya's Foreign Ministry says the country's caches of chemical weapons, including bombs and artillery shells filled with mustard gas, have been completely destroyed.

Mohammed Abdel-Aziz made his announcement on Tuesday after a mission was completed few days ago.

"Libya is totally empty of any presence of chemical weapons ... which could pose threat to the safety of people, the environment, or neighboring regions," he said in remarks carried by Libya's state news agency.

Before dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed, Libya declared in 2004 it had 25 metric tons of sulfur mustard and 1,400 metric tons of precursor chemicals used to make weapons. It also declared more than 3,500 unfilled aerial bombs designed for use with chemical warfare agents such as mustard gas, and three chemical weapons production facilities.