Syria Foreign Minister vows end to chemical arms in landmark OPCW speech

Syria's foreign minister has told the global chemical weapons watchdog that the new government is committed to destroying any remaining stockpiles produced under ousted president Bashar al-Assad.

Addressing a meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Asaad al-Shibani vowed to "put an end to this painful legacy, to bring justice to victims, and to ensure that the compliance with international law is a solid one".

But he added that Syria would "need the support of the international community". Assad's government denied ever using chemical weapons during the 14-year civil war, but activists accused it of carrying out of dozens of chemical attacks.