Syria hands over one-third of chemical weapons, watchdog says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Syria has relinquished about a third of its chemical weapons for destruction abroad, The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague said.
According to Reuters, the watchdog said Damascus has handed over six consignments of the toxic agents it declared as part of a Russian-U.S. deal struck last year.
Syria also has submitted a revised plan to remove all chemicals from its territory by the end of April, the report said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Syria missed December and February deadlines to hand over weapons.
"Given delays since the lapse of the two target dates for removal, it will be important to maintain this newly created momentum," OPCW chief Ahmet Uzumcu told delegates at Tuesday's meeting, according to Reuters.
Uzumcu said Syria has reaffirmed its commitment to implement the removal operations, "in a timely manner."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.S. said it needs 90 days to destroy Syrian President Bashar Assad's arsenal of approximately 500 metric tons of material.