Syria submits plan of destructing chemical weapons

DAMASCUS - Syria has submitted an initial declaration of its chemical weapon program, including a general plan of destruction of its chemical weapons' program, the Organization of the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement Sunday.

"The Syrian Arab Republic submitted to the OPCW its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapons program," the OPCW said, adding that the document from Syria includes a general plan of destruction for consideration by the OPCW Executive Council.

"Syria's submission is in line with the deadline set by the OPCW Executive Council in its decision of September 27, 2013 requiring a complete initial declaration by October 27, 2014. Such declarations provide the basis on which plans are devised for a systematic, total and verified destruction of declared chemical weapons and production facilities," the statement said.

The United Nations Security Council said the OPCW will help Syria destroy its chemical weapons by mid-2014. The mission will be expanded with more investigators arriving in the unrest-torn country by November 1.