Syria misses self-imposed deadline for destroying chemical arms

A general view shows a cement factory that activists said is controlled by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Ramouse, Aleppo April 26, 2014. Picture taken April 26, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria appeared to have missed a self-imposed deadline to get rid of all its chemical weapons by April 27, as the United Nations announced that more than 92 percent of the arsenal had been shipped out of the country or destroyed.

The UN deadline for the total destruction of Syria's chemical weapons is June 30, but the government had vowed to complete the removal of its 1,300 tonnes of chemical substances on April 27, after missing several deadlines.