By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 31 August 2016:
The last of Qaddafi’s chemical weapons have been removed from Libya in a notably low profile operation the exact details of which are still not clear.
Some 400 tons of precursor agents were brought in special containers from Jufra to Misrata where they were loaded onto the Danish vessel, the Apsalon. From there they were sailed last Saturday to Germany where the Danes say they will be disposed of over 15 months,
Security for the operation appears to have been provided by Bunyan Marsous forces.
Qaddafi’s chemical arsenal, which included mustard gas,was originally stored in Ruwagha and Tarhuna. The most dangerous part of this stockpile, the Category 1 toxins were destroyed between 2012 and 2013 in Libya using a specially-built oven. But the less dangerous precursor agents remained stored under electronic guard in Jufra.
It was originally reported that there were around 800 tons of precursor agents. If the deadly cargo loaded on to the Apsalon was indeed the last of the chemical weapons, then it would appear that there may have been an earlier, unreported shipment.
The Danish Ministry of Defence said that last week’s operation was paid for by the Germany, the UK and the US.
The UN Security Council in July authorised member states to help in the removal and destruction of the Libyan chemical stockpile.
