Libya ships chemical weapons stock to Germany

Libya has shipped the last chemical weapons stock out of the country, two officials announced yesterday.

The arms have been moved to Germany aboard a Danish ship which set sail from the port of Misrata, east of Tripoli under UN supervision.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, Moussa El-Koni said: “All of Libya’s chemical arsenal has been shipped out of the country.”

“This is good news for Libya, and for peace in Libya, and we thank all the countries that participated and the UN.”

Meanwhile, a senior security official in Misrata said the stock, including 23 tanks of chemicals, were shipped out on Saturday, under the supervision of the United Nations, destined for Germany.

“We as Libyans did not want these weapons, especially during the current security situation and with the presence of Daesh in the region,” the security official said.

The Danish government had previously offered to send a container vessel, a support ship and 200 staff to handle the operation, coordinated by the UN-backed Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).