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Syria chemical weapons: OPCW backs plan ahead of UN vote Syria chemical weapons: OPCW backs plan ahead of UN vote
(35 minutes later)
The international chemical weapons watchdog has agreed a plan aimed at dismantling Syria's stockpile.The international chemical weapons watchdog has agreed a plan aimed at dismantling Syria's stockpile.
The 41-nation executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) approved the timetable at a meeting in The Hague.The 41-nation executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) approved the timetable at a meeting in The Hague.
This will now be incorporated into a draft resolution agreed by Russia and the US which will go before the UN Security Council in the next few hours. This will now be incorporated into a draft resolution agreed by Russia and the US which will shortly go before the UN Security Council.
The OPCW says it wants its inspectors to be in Syria by next Tuesday.The OPCW says it wants its inspectors to be in Syria by next Tuesday.
"The decision is adopted and it is effective immediately," OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan told reporters after the meeting in The Hague. 'Unmistakable message'
The full details of the document are expected to be released shortly. After a special late-night session in The Hague, the OPCW said it "adopted a historic decision on the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons".
The draft text set out a deadline of 1 November for the destruction of production and mixing/filling equipment, and the complete destruction of all chemical weapons material and equipment in the first half of next year. In a statement, the watchdog said its executive council "agreed on an accelerated programme for achieving the complete elimination of Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014. The decision requires inspections in Syria to commence from 1 October 2013".
Syria is instructed to provide "immediate and unfettered" access to the OPCW's inspectors. "The decision also calls for ambitious milestones for destruction which will be set by the (executive) council by 15 November."
The text also authorises inspectors to investigate sites not declared by Damascus. OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said the move "sends an unmistakable message that the international community is coming together to work for peace in Syria, beginning with the elimination of chemical weapons in that country".
These are unchartered waters for the OPCW, a small organisation that has never undertaken a job of this size or complexity, the BBC's world affairs correspondent Paul Adams says.These are unchartered waters for the OPCW, a small organisation that has never undertaken a job of this size or complexity, the BBC's world affairs correspondent Paul Adams says.
It will need a lot of help and is expected to ask for urgent funding and additional personnel, he adds.It will need a lot of help and is expected to ask for urgent funding and additional personnel, he adds.
The OPCW document will form part of a UN resolution which sets out to govern the whole process.The OPCW document will form part of a UN resolution which sets out to govern the whole process.
The resolution - which is expected to go before the UN Security Council in New York at 20:00 local time (00:00 GMT Saturday) - condemns the use of chemical weapons but does not attribute blame.The resolution - which is expected to go before the UN Security Council in New York at 20:00 local time (00:00 GMT Saturday) - condemns the use of chemical weapons but does not attribute blame.
The document has two legally binding demands: that Syria abandons its weapons stockpile and that the chemical weapons experts are given unfettered access.The document has two legally binding demands: that Syria abandons its weapons stockpile and that the chemical weapons experts are given unfettered access.
Although the draft refers to Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the use of military force, a second resolution authorising such a move would be needed.Although the draft refers to Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the use of military force, a second resolution authorising such a move would be needed.
US President Barack Obama said agreement on the issue by Security Council members would be a "potentially huge victory for the international community".US President Barack Obama said agreement on the issue by Security Council members would be a "potentially huge victory for the international community".
Previous attempts at a resolution have stumbled amid disagreements between Russia and the US on how to deal with the crisis in Syria.Previous attempts at a resolution have stumbled amid disagreements between Russia and the US on how to deal with the crisis in Syria.
Meanwhile. violence goes on in Syria. Activists said a car bomb killed at least 20 people near a mosque in Rankus, a town north of Damascus, just after Friday prayers.Meanwhile. violence goes on in Syria. Activists said a car bomb killed at least 20 people near a mosque in Rankus, a town north of Damascus, just after Friday prayers.
'Comprehensive report'Comprehensive report
Earlier, the UN said its team of inspectors currently in Syria are investigating three chemical weapons attacks alleged to have happened after the 21 August attack in Damascus that left hundreds dead and sparked a threat of US military action.Earlier, the UN said its team of inspectors currently in Syria are investigating three chemical weapons attacks alleged to have happened after the 21 August attack in Damascus that left hundreds dead and sparked a threat of US military action.
The three attacks are among seven alleged incidents the UN said its team were investigating.The three attacks are among seven alleged incidents the UN said its team were investigating.
In a statement, the UN said its team, led by Ake Sellstrom, arrived in Syria for its second visit on 25 September and hopes to finish its work by Monday 30 September.In a statement, the UN said its team, led by Ake Sellstrom, arrived in Syria for its second visit on 25 September and hopes to finish its work by Monday 30 September.
It is working on a "comprehensive report" that it expects to have finished by late October.It is working on a "comprehensive report" that it expects to have finished by late October.
The UN listed the alleged attacks, which all took place this year, as Khan al-Assal on 19 March; Sheikh Maqsoud on 13 April; Saraqeb on 29 April; Ghouta on 21 August; Bahhariya on 22 August; Jobar on 24 August and Ashrafieh Sahnaya on 25 August.The UN listed the alleged attacks, which all took place this year, as Khan al-Assal on 19 March; Sheikh Maqsoud on 13 April; Saraqeb on 29 April; Ghouta on 21 August; Bahhariya on 22 August; Jobar on 24 August and Ashrafieh Sahnaya on 25 August.
Syria pushed for the investigation of the three post-21 August incidents.Syria pushed for the investigation of the three post-21 August incidents.
Its envoy to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, accused "militants" of using chemical gas against the army in Bahhariya, Jobar and Ashrafieh Sahnaya.Its envoy to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, accused "militants" of using chemical gas against the army in Bahhariya, Jobar and Ashrafieh Sahnaya.