Syria Speeds Up Chemical Weapons Removal

Nearly one-third of Syria's chemical weapons have been destroyed or removed, according to the group in charge of destroying the country's stockpile.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Syria's government has accelerated its elimination efforts after missing several important deadlines.

"This is good progress and I expect further acceleration and intensification of effort," Special Coordinator for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission Sigrid Kaag said.

March is a critical month to accomplish its mission of ridding the war-torn nation of its chemical arsenal. The deadline is June 30.

Syrian authorities submitted a revised plan to complete the removal and destruction of the weapons by the end of April.

"Given delays since the lapse of the two target dates for removal, it will be important to maintain this newly created momentum," Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told the Council.

"For its part, the Syrian government has reaffirmed its commitment to implement the removal operations in a timely manner," Uzumcu said.