U.N. to help Libya dispose of chemical weapons

The United Nations Security Council on Friday authorized the UN to help eliminate Libya’s stockpile of precursor chemicals that could be used to develop toxic weapons.

Libyan authorities last Saturday told global chemical weapons watchdog, that the country’s remaining chemicals had been moved to a temporary storage site, north of the country.

The North African country had asked for help to destroy them outside of Libya.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the resolution “marks the beginning of the end of the Libyan chemical weapons program.

“Thank you very much Mr. President. This is my first visit to the United Nations as foreign secretary and I am delighted that it coincides with the unanimous adoption of a resolution that marks an important step forward for international peace and security. I recognize that this excellent work goes day in, day out,” he said.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the adoption of the U.N. resolution on Friday was relevant because of the uprising of terrorist groups in Libya.

According to diplomats, Libya has roughly 700 tons of precursor chemicals – known as category two chemical weapons.

Libya in February 2014 had said it had destroyed weapons that were ready for use including armed munitions and the most deadly, or “category 1,” toxins with the help of Western states.