Syria to miss deadline for moving chemical weapons

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Syria will likely miss its agreed-upon year-end deadline for moving its most deadly chemical weapons from the country, the United Nations said.

Under a deal struck in September, Syria has until mid-2014 to destroy its chemical weapons program, agreeing with the intergovernmental Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to remove about 500 tons of toxic chemicals by the end of the year, the remaining stockpile of about 700 tons by mid-February, the New York Times said Sunday.

"At this stage transportation of some of the most critical chemical material before Dec. 31 is unlikely," a joint statement released Saturday by the United Nations and the chemical weapons group said, blaming volatile security, logistical problems and bad weather in Syria.

The statement noted "important progress" made by Syria in dismantling its chemical weapons program.