UN inspectors to supervise Libya's destruction of chemical weapons stockpile

Libya has announced it will today begin destroying more than 3,300 unfilled bombs, intended for the delivery of chemical weapons, under the supervision of outside inspectors, a United Nations spokesman reported.

An inspection team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has arrived in Libya to verify the destruction of Libya's arms stockpile, spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York.

The experts will conduct an inventory of all munitions before Libya destroys them in line with its commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Tripoli ratified earlier this month.

Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the OPCW, described the destruction as "a very positive step and a confirmation of Libya's intention to actually get rid of prohibited weapons."

In a statement issued from its headquarters in The Hague, the OPCW said the destruction of the unfilled chemical munitions would be completed by next Friday, when Libya is also scheduled to submit a complete declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile. The OPCW will then form a plan to destroy the remainder of the stockpile and any related facilities.