Germany to destroy tons of Libya chemical weapons components

BERLIN – German officials say about 500 metric tons (551 tons) of dual-use compounds from the chemicals weapons program of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will be destroyed by the end of the year.

The toxic chemicals are among the last from a stockpile that the international community feared could fall into the hands of extremist groups or rogue states after the fall of Gadhafi in 2011.

GEKA, a specialist company owned by the German state and based in Munster, south of Hamburg, is tasked with disposing of the chemicals.

Defence ministry spokesman Boris Nannt said Friday that the destruction would be completed by December.

Libya had made a formal request to the U.N.-backed Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in July for international assistance to have the chemical weapons removed.