Syria surrenders almost half of chemical arsenal

Syria has surrendered almost half of its chemical arsenal, including its entire stock of lethal mustard gas, from the war-torn country.

The world's chemical watchdog, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said two shipments have in the last week been transferred from the port of Latakia to Norwegian and Danish vessels for destruction outside the country.

According to news24, despite having shipped 45.6 percent of its Category 1 and Category 2 chemicals, Syria remains behind schedule for destroying its entire arsenal by 30 June.

The OPCW earlier this month noted that Syria had increased the pace of removing or destroying its arsenal after missing critical deadlines, the report added.